Virat Kohli's scintillating century key as India secure narrow win over South Africa

India edged South Africa by 17 runs in a thrilling 1st ODI at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi. With the narrow victory, KL Rahul and his men have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Virat Kohli was the star of the show with a scintillating century.

Virat Kohli anchored the innings with a masterful 135 off 120 balls, including 11 fours and 7 sixes, his 52nd ODI ton that rescued India from early jolts after Yashasvi Jaiswal's 18 and Rohit Sharma's aggressive 57 off 51 balls in a 136-run stand. KL Rahul added a brisk 60 off 56 with 2 fours and 3 sixes in a crucial 76-run partnership with Kohli, while Ravindra Jadeja's explosive 32 off 20 propelled India past 300 before late strikes from Corbin Bosch left them at 349 for 8.

South Africa crumbled to 7 for 3 inside four overs, but Matthew Breetzke (72 off 80) and Marco Jansen (70 off 39) fought back with a 97-run stand, while Bosch's valiant 67 off 51 nearly pulled off a heist, needing 18 off the last over before Prasidh's yorkers prevailed. Kuldeep Yadav starred with 4 for 68, breaking key stands as South Africa ended at 332 all out in 49.2 overs.​

India's attack thrived on pace and spin variety, with Rana's fiery opening burst (3/65) and Arshdeep Singh's 2 for 64 setting a tone, complemented by Prasidh's death-over heroics (1/48). Kuldeep's wickets of Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Jansen, and Prenelan Subrayen dismantled the middle order on a flat pitch, despite 23 extras leaked by South Africa earlier.