Can Virat Kohli's century and Rohit Sharma's fifty lead India to a commanding score against South Africa in the 1st ODI?
Click to start listening
Synopsis
In an electrifying start to the ODI series, Virat Kohli's century and Rohit Sharma's contributions propelled India to a significant score of 349 against South Africa. Discover how the duo's partnership unfolded amidst early setbacks and set the stage for an exciting contest.
Key Takeaways
- Virat Kohli scored 135 runs, showcasing his prowess.
- Rohit Sharma contributed significantly with 57 runs.
- The duo formed a crucial 136-run partnership.
- India set a target of 350 runs for South Africa.
- Ottneil Baartman was the standout bowler for South Africa.
Ranchi, Nov 30 (NationPress) The Indian men's cricket team showcased their prowess as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma resumed their exceptional partnership, propelling the team to an impressive total of 349/8 in their inaugural innings, setting a formidable target for South Africa during the first ODI at the JSCA International Stadium Complex on Sunday.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, India encountered an early setback with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal falling victim to Nandre Burger in just the fourth over. However, the subsequent performance by the senior players, Rohit and Kohli, demonstrated their ability to navigate through adversity.
The experienced duo enthralled the crowd with an innings that was a delightful mixture of early wickets, half-centuries, a splendid century, and some impressive resilience, underlining their dominance.
The bowlers from South Africa faced a significant challenge as Rohit and Kohli formed a remarkable 136-run partnership for the second wicket. After the initial wicket, the visitors only found respite late in the innings when all-rounder Marco Jansen trapped Rohit Sharma lbw in the 22nd over.
Kohli initiated the celebrations with a half-century, quickly followed by Rohit, who achieved several milestones during his innings. Rohit was dismissed soon after surpassing Shahid Afridi’s record for the most ODI sixes, contributing 57 runs off 51 balls.
Following Rohit, Ruturaj Gaikwad stepped onto the field, looking to make his mark after a two-year hiatus from ODIs. However, he was unexpectedly dismissed by his CSK teammate Dewald Brevis, who executed a stunning catch.
Washington Sundar struck well, navigating the gaps effectively, but his innings concluded in the 31st over due to an out from Ottneil Baartman.
KL Rahul then played a pivotal role, forming a crucial 76-run partnership with Kohli, anchoring the innings. Kohli eventually reached a magnificent century, marking his 52nd in ODIs and 83rd overall.
Upon achieving his hundred, Kohli accelerated, hammering Prenelan Subrayen for two fours and two sixes, swiftly amassing 20 runs. Rahul joined in the power-hitting as they exploited the conditions, leaving the bowlers struggling.
While Kohli aimed to finish the innings unbeaten, he was caught by Ryan Rickelton in the 43rd over.
After Kohli's departure, Ravindra Jadeja and Rahul added 65 runs for the sixth wicket, but the end of their partnership led to a minor collapse in the closing overs. Jansen dismissed Rahul on the penultimate ball of the 49th over, and Corbin Bosch took out Jadeja and Arshdeep on the last over's fourth and fifth deliveries.
As a result, the Men in Blue fell from 329/5 in 48 overs to conclude at 349/8, setting a challenging target of 350 runs for the Proteas.
Brief scores:
India 349/8 in 50 overs (Virat Kohli 135, KL Rahul 60; Ottneil Baartman 2-60, Nandre Burger 2-65) against South Africa
Point of View
It's crucial to highlight the resilience and experience displayed by the Indian team, particularly by stalwarts like Kohli and Sharma. Their performance not only sets a high benchmark for future matches but also showcases the depth and talent within Indian cricket. We stand with the nation in celebrating this achievement, hoping to see continued excellence on the field.
NationPress
30/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the match?
India scored 349/8 in 50 overs against South Africa.
Who scored the highest runs for India?
Virat Kohli scored the highest runs, making 135 runs.
What was Rohit Sharma's contribution in the match?
Rohit Sharma scored 57 runs off 51 balls.
Which player took the most wickets for South Africa?
Ottneil Baartman took 2 wickets for 60 runs.
Where was the match played?
The match took place at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi.
