Virat Kohli’s Masterclass Powers India to Thrilling Win Over South Africa in Ranchi
Ranchi witnessed a cricketing spectacle as Virat Kohli produced a sublime century to lift India out of recent Test-series gloom.
The veteran batter struck a majestic 135 off 120 balls, his 52nd ODI hundred, anchoring India’s imposing total of 349 in the first ODI against South Africa.
Kohli’s fluent knock, laced with seven sixes and eleven boundaries, was the backbone of India’s innings. His 136-run partnership with Rohit Sharma (57) steadied the hosts after an early setback and set the tone for a high-scoring contest.
South Africa, riding high after their historic Test triumph, fought valiantly. Matthew Breetzke’s composed 72 and Marco Jansen’s explosive 70 off 39 balls kept the chase alive.
Jansen’s innings featured the fastest ODI fifty by a South African in India, rattling the Indian attack before Kuldeep Yadav (4/68) and Harshit Rana (3/54) struck crucial blows.
The visitors needed 18 runs in the final over, but Prasidh Krishna held his nerve to seal a 17-run win for India.
The victory not only gave India a 1–0 lead in the three-match series but also reaffirmed Kohli’s enduring value in ODIs, the only format he now plays internationally.
For India, the win was more than just numbers—it was a morale boost after weeks of disappointment in the Test arena. Kohli’s innings reminded fans and selectors alike that even at 36, he remains the heartbeat of India’s ODI batting.
