India overcame a challenging situation and secured a 17-run win against South Africa in a tightly contested match, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi.

The match showcased a fierce competition between the batting lineups of both teams, providing several valuable lessons.

India set an impressive total in their first innings, bolstered by a remarkable century from Virat Kohli and important half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and K.L. Rahul.

After being invited to bat, India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early due to Nandre Burger’s bowling, but Rohit and Kohli quickly took charge.

The seasoned duo constructed a fluent partnership of 136 runs, relieving the pressure following the initial setback. Rohit scored a brisk 57 off 51 deliveries and surpassed Shahid Afridi’s long-standing record for the most sixes in ODIs before Marco Jansen dismissed him lbw.

Rahul lent solid support, scoring a well-calibrated 60, and the duo added 76 crucial runs together. After Kohli was dismissed for 135, Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja propelled India towards a strong finish with a partnership of 65 runs.

However, a late collapse, including wickets to Jansen and Corbin Bosch, limited India to 349/8, still a challenging target for the South Africans.

As South Africa chased down the daunting target of 350 runs, they were quickly unsettled as India’s bowlers came out aggressively. Harshit Rana, bowling the second over, instantly made an impact on his very first legitimate ball.

After starting with a wide, the pacer found his rhythm immediately, sending a sharp, good-length delivery that jagged back into Ryan Rickelton. The South African opener nonchalantly pushed defensively, only to have his stumps shattered, giving India the breakthrough they sought.

The pressure escalated further. In the fifth over, Arshdeep Singh bolstered India’s supremacy with a beautifully angled delivery directed at skipper Aiden Markram. Fishing for a ball that moved away from him, Markram only managed a thick edge, resulting in Rahul taking another slick catch.

The captain was dismissed for seven runs off 15 balls, leaving South Africa three wickets down and in serious trouble within the first few overs.

With their top order decimated and the required run rate climbing, South Africa’s chase faltered significantly as India’s bowlers maintained firm control during the initial Power-play. Strategic bowling from Prasidh Krishna as he concluded the 10th over gave the hosts an early advantage in the match.

Matthew Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi steadied the innings admirably after the Indian bowlers dismantled the Protea top order, sharing a partnership of 66 runs for the fourth wicket, but the latter’s innings ended when Kuldeep Yadav trapped him lbw.

Dewald Brevis displayed composure and took on the bowlers effectively as he teamed up with Breetzke to accumulate runs. Although the Indian bowlers faced challenges from South Africa’s middle-order batsmen, they managed to break partnerships at crucial moments, with the stand between Brivis and Breetzke lasting 53 runs.

Jansen’s innings, however, caught the Men in Blue off guard and rattled them as the tall all-rounder played an explosive knock to bring his team closer to victory. Breetzke played a supporting role while Jansen took on the opposition bowlers with confidence to help reduce the target.

Just then, in the 34th over, a change in bowling and the decision to bring Kuldeep Yadav back into the attack proved beneficial for India as the spinner claimed the wickets of the in-form Jansen and Breetzke in just three deliveries, providing the Men in Blue a moment of relief.

Prenelan Subrayen and Bosch offered some relief to their teammates in the dugout, but Kuldeep clinched his fourth wicket of the day by sending the former packing in the final over of his spell.

Bosch and Burger maximized their efforts, but Arshdeep’s breakthrough late in the 46th over to dismiss the latter kept the match finely balanced.

With India needing just one more wicket for victory, Bosch kept everyone on their toes and gradually reached his half-century as the visitors aimed to chase down the target. It all came down to the final over, with the Proteas requiring 19 runs off the last six balls.

However, the visitors’ resistance ultimately ended when a mis-hit from Bosch resulted in Rohit taking a brilliant catch, securing India’s victory.

With Prasidh Krishna delivering the final blow, India secured a narrow 17-run win, thereby taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

Virat Kohli mentioned that he does not believe in excessive preparation before a series. He stated that visualizing the game has been beneficial in getting him ready for the first ODI after an extended break.

“I’ve never been one to focus on extensive preparation. Most of my cricket is mental. I train hard physically; as long as I keep my fitness levels up, visualizing my batting and fielding keeps me prepared. I wanted to acclimate to the conditions in Ranchi. I visualize the game frequently. When I picture myself being intense and focused, I know I can relax and perform out there. Having played around 300 ODIs and so much cricket, being in touch with the game and having the opportunity to hit balls in practice is key; an hour or two in the nets can confirm you’re in good form. If you’re struggling, you tend to spend more time in the nets. Ultimately, it’s about being mentally prepared and enjoying the game,” Kohli expressed.

Brief scores:

India 349/8 in 50 overs (Virat Kohli 135, K.L. Rahul 60; Ottneil Baartman 2-60, Nandre Burger 2-65) beat

South Africa 332 all out in 49.2 overs (Matthew Breetzke 72, Marco Jansen 70, Corbin Bosch 67, Tony de Zorzi 39. Dewald Brevis 37; Kuldeep Yadav 4-68, Harshit Rana 3-65, Arshdeep Singh 2-64) by 17 runs