Classic Kohli Masterclass Propels India to Narrow Victory Over South Africa

The JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi was packed to the brim as fans were treated to three hours of vintage Virat Kohli in impeccable form. Serving as a reminder of his classic prowess, Kohli thrilled with wristy flicks, aggressive advances towards the pacers, and iconic straight drives reminiscent of Sachin Tendulkar.

Addressing critics who questioned his future in the ODI format, Kohli responded emphatically with a masterful 135 off just 120 balls. With the next World Cup two years away, this innings underscored the invaluable contribution that Kohli continues to bring to the national team.

Kohli’s stellar performance propelled India to a narrow 17-run victory against South Africa in the opening ODI, despite valiant efforts from Matthew Breetzke (72 off 80 balls), Marco Jansen (70 off 39 balls), and Corbin Bosch (67 off 51 balls) threatening to spoil the party. Ultimately, India managed to hold their ground.

Nostalgia peaked when Kohli joined forces with Rohit Sharma for a 136-run stand for the second wicket. Like Kohli, Rohit remains focused on ODI cricket and capitalized on an early drop by Tony de Zorzi. Rohit dismantled off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen with powerful slog sweeps and surpassed Shahid Afridi’s ODI sixes record with a signature pull off Jansen.

Kohli and Rohit defied expectations, showcasing remarkable fitness for experienced players. Rohit made sharp saves in the field, while Kohli sprinted between the wickets even during the late stages of his innings.

However, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, eager to make their mark, couldn’t capitalize. Jaiswal fell to a quick delivery from Nandre Burger, and Ruturaj was caught brilliantly by Dewald Brevis at point.

India’s momentum slowed with Washington Sundar (13 off 19 balls) at the crease. Stand-in skipper K.L. Rahul, contributing 60 off 56 balls, couldn’t deliver the explosive finish needed.

Faced with a 350-run target and challenging dew conditions, South Africa would have been optimistic about their chances. However, any hopes were initially dashed by the fiery opening spells from Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh. Rana dismissed Ryan Rickleton and Quinton de Kock with sheer pace, while Arshdeep removed captain Aiden Markram, leaving South Africa in trouble at 11 for three.

Breetzke and Jansen attempted a comeback with a rapid 97-run partnership for the sixth wicket, with Jansen wowing the crowd by slashing boundaries and lowering the required run rate to seven.

A double strike from left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav swung the momentum back to India’s favor. Bosch, however, continued to fight, narrowing down the equation to 18 runs needed off the last over, bowled by Prasidh Krishna.

In a tense finale, Bosch’s miscue found its way into Rohit’s hands at cover, securing the win for India and allowing Kohli, the star of the show, to breathe a sigh of relief.

Published on Nov 30, 2025.