The second ODI between India and South Africa in Raipur delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the 2025 season. India, powered by another Virat Kohli masterclass and late fireworks from KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, posted a towering total, only for South Africa to respond with a fearless, record chase that stunned the home crowd and set up a decider in the three‑match series.​
India’s Innings: Kohli Masterclass and Late Assault
India opted to bat first and, despite early jitters, built their innings around Virat Kohli’s superb century, his second ton of the series. After Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma fell inside the first ten overs, Kohli rebuilt with Ruturaj Gaikwad before taking control through the middle overs with classic strokes down the ground and through the covers.​​
Once Gaikwad and Kohli were dismissed, the platform allowed KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja to launch a brutal death‑overs assault. The pair plundered boundaries off Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen in the last six overs, taking India to a formidable 358/5 in 50 overs and setting South Africa a target of 359, which looked above par on a slightly used surface.​
South Africa’s Chase: Top‑Order Platform
Chasing 359, South Africa lost Quinton de Kock early to Arshdeep Singh, who found late swing to have the left‑hander caught in the ring. However, captain Temba Bavuma steadied the innings, first absorbing pressure and then counter‑attacking, sharing a crucial partnership that kept the required run rate within reach.​
Bavuma’s dismissal in the mid‑40s briefly tilted the momentum back towards India, but the visitors’ intent never dipped. The entry of Dewald Brevis and Matthew Breetzke transformed the chase, as the pair targeted India’s spinners and fifth‑bowling options, regularly clearing the ropes and slicing the equation down to a manageable run‑a‑ball scenario.​
Brevis–Breetzke Carnage and Tense Finish
Brevis and Breetzke added a blazing 90‑plus stand off just over 60 balls, hammering anything overpitched or short and forcing Rohit Sharma to shuffle his bowlers constantly. Kuldeep Yadav finally broke the stand by dismissing Brevis, and then struck again to remove Breetzke, briefly dragging India back into the contest with South Africa still needing plenty in the last ten overs.​
Despite those setbacks, South Africa’s lower middle order refused to fold. Powerful blows in the closing overs, including clean hits down the ground and over mid‑wicket, meant the required rate never spiralled beyond control, and the visitors crossed the line with four wickets in hand and just a few balls to spare, sealing their biggest successful ODI chase against India.​​
Key Moments and Turning Points
Several moments stood out as decisive in this classic ODI. India’s decision to hold back Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep for the death overs left a window in the middle where South Africa’s batters feasted on the change bowlers, particularly during the Brevis–Breetzke partnership. Earlier, Corbin Bosch’s expensive final over to Rahul and Jadeja added nearly 20 runs to India’s total, which at the halfway mark looked like a match‑winning cushion.​​
However, the defining shift came between overs 30 and 42 of the chase, when South Africa consistently scored at well over eight an over without losing wickets, turning a steep ask into a realistic proposition. By the time the final over arrived, the visitors needed only a handful of runs, and a calm finish under pressure ensured they levelled the series 1–1 heading into the Raipur decider.​​
Stats and Score Summary
- Venue: Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur.​
- India: 358/5 in 50 overs – Virat Kohli’s 53rd ODI Hundred, key cameos from KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja.​​
- South Africa: 360+ chase completed with four wickets in hand in the final over, their highest successful ODI chase against India.​​
- Result: South Africa won by 4 wickets to level the series 1–1.
