India edge South Africa in last-over thriller as Virat Kohli shines with 135 in Ranchi

Both the batting greats have put on a 100-run stand. Kohli and Rohit are three runs short of their half-centuries. Bosch comes in for this one. And there goes a sixer and comes 67th half-century for King Kohli! He tops it up with another sixer! My, oh my! Someone needs to check the decibel level in the stadium. Just brilliant. 14 comes off this over. IND 140/1 (18)

Both Rohit and Kohli are nearing their half-century. The current partnership between them is 97 (80 balls). The way they are batting, looks like they haven’t retired from T20s at all! Three runs come off Bosch’s over. It is 45 runs for both Rohit (36 balls) and Kohli (44 balls). IND 122/1 (16)

Two white-ball greats have taken charge in Ranchi. Spinner Subrayen comes in. Oh my! Rohit hits two big sixers on the first two balls. 351 sixes for Rohit in ODIs after these two biggies. One was 83 metre and the other was 97 metre long. Simply phenomenal. 15 comes off this over. IND 119/1 (15)

With each ball that touches the bats of Rohit and Kohli, the crowd erupts. Even if the shots don’t convert into big runs, the crowd knows how less they see of the two batters. There comes a stunning boundary for Baartman by the Hitman on the third delivery. The ball was on point but Rohit knows the field well and he hits past short third. IND 94/1 (12)

Bosch comes in for this one. Kohli, once again, faces the first two and hits the third one for a boundary. Kohli puts it smoothly through the covers and it’s simply stunning to watch. Outstanding batting from Kohli. Are we going to witness another one of those trance innings from the King? We hope we do. IND 86/1 (11)

Baartman comes in for the next. Facing Kohli. After reading in the first two balls, Kohli thumps it over mid-off for a sixer. He walks out and balances himself with grace and that 81-metre-long sixer looked just beautiful. 50-run partnership between the two. IND 80/1 (10)

Change of bowling. Corbin Bosch from over the wicket. The change has worked so far for the Proteas. But with Rohit Sharma in the pitch, expect fireworks. He hits two back-to-back boundaries on the last two balls of Bosch’s over. Splendid! IND 72/1 (9)

Rohit and Kohli are playing 392nd ODI game together. Ro-Ko doesn’t make sense as it looks like nothing is stopping them. Virat plays it smoothly down the ground for a clean boundary to Nadre. Follows it up by double. IND 39/1 (6)

Kohli comes in and edged for a boundary. After Jaiswal, Nandre is eyeing another early breakthrough. There could have been another big wicket for Nandre but Rohit was dropped at deep square leg. This will hurt the Proteas a lot. Rohit plays a pull shot but de Zorzi missed it. Crowd is going wild in Ranchi. Brilliant spell. IND 31/1 (4)

Marco Jansen faces Rohit Sharma. Single comes first ball. Jaiswal takes two on the next delivery. And there comes a maximum!! An upper cut from Jaiswal goes long way. Nandre walks in for next over and takes down Jaiswal on the first ball. Kohli walks in.

Nandre to Jaiswal – Single comes off the first ball. Rohit on strike and crowd is excited. Really excited. Last time Rohit was in the crease, the crowd witnessed stunning innings. Takes a single. Jaiswal uses the pace and sends it for a boundary. The young batter uses the pace against the South African pacer. The delivery from Nandre was 145 kph. IND 15/0 (2)

Marco Jansen delivers the first ball to Yashasvi Jaiswal, and the young opener wastes no time. A confident strike sends the ball racing to the boundary for four runs.

Indian captain KL Rahul shared insights into the team’s approach for the ODI series against South Africa, noting that the dew factor in Ranchi has influenced their bowling plans. He expressed confidence in the squad’s preparation and noted how even the new additions bring valuable experience.

Rahul stressed the importance of building strong team chemistry with the ODI World Cup in mind. He also confirmed the playing XI, with Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal opening, Washington Sundar taking a role in the middle order, and a well-rounded bowling unit comprising three seamers and three spinners.

KL Rahul takes over the captaincy as Shubman Gill recovers from injury and his leadership will be closely watched. India are also missing key names like Shreyas Iyer and senior pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, making this series an important platform for emerging players such as Nitish Reddy and Harshit Rana. Rohit Sharma returns to ODI cricket, hoping to restart a fresh chapter in the format, while Virat Kohli eyes another strong comeback – especially at a venue where he has historically performed well.

Both the teams have announced their playing XIs.

India: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 5 Washington Sundar, 6 KL Rahul, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Harshit Rana, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Prasidh Krishna

South Africa: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Ryan Rickelton, 3 Quinton de Kock (wk), 4 Matthew Breetzke, 5 Tony de Zorzi, 6 Dewald Brevis, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 Prenelan Subrayen, 10 Nandre Burger, 11 Ottneil Baartman

South Africa stand-in skipper Aiden Markram wins the toss and elects to bowl first against India in Ranchi

Virat Kohli has been exceptional at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi, scoring 384 runs in just five matches with an unbelievable average of 192. He has two centuries and one fifty at this venue, with his top score being an unbeaten 139. His most memorable knock here came against Australia, where he scored a brilliant 123 off 95 balls during a chase of 314, while no other Indian batter managed to score more than 40.

The toss will take place at 1 pm IST with play starting at 1:30 pm. Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates.

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have been rested, meaning India’s bowling attack will look different and younger. Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna now shoulder responsibility. This series could be an important test of India’s next generation pace depth.

This is the first of a three-match ODI series between India and South Africa. India will aim to bounce back after being whitewashed in the Test series, while South Africa comes in with confidence. The series is crucial for India to test bench strength and for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to cement their ODI roles ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Fans can catch all the action live on Star Sports TV channels and via JioStar live streaming. Pre-match updates, toss results, and live commentary will also be available through official cricket apps and social media handles, ensuring fans stay connected throughout the match.

The JSCA Stadium in Ranchi offers a balanced pitch. Pacers get early assistance from bounce, while spinners are expected to become more effective as the innings progresses. Dew in the evening could make chasing slightly easier, making toss decisions crucial. The ground is considered batter-friendly under lights.

The toss for the first ODI between India and South Africa will take place at 1:00 PM IST, with play beginning at 1:30 PM IST. The match is scheduled as a day-night fixture at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi, allowing for play under floodlights in the evening session.

With senior players missing or rested, young talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Reddy and Harshit Rana have the stage to make a statement. The ODI series offers them a chance to gain valuable international exposure and possibly establish themselves as long-term selection contenders.

After the Test disappointment, this ODI series gives India a strong opportunity to bounce back. The arrival of senior players brings stability, but India must still navigate injuries, selection puzzles and a highly competitive South African team determined to continue their strong tour.

All eyes are once again on India’s biggest white-ball duo. Rohit and Kohli have shaped India’s ODI identity for over a decade, but this series could set the tone for how long they remain central figures. Their form will be observed closely as India look to balance youth and experience.

South Africa’s probable XI features Quinton de Kock and Markram in key roles. Dewald Brevis and Marco Jansen strengthen the middle order, while Keshav Maharaj leads the spin attack. The side looks balanced and well prepared for Indian conditions, raising expectations of a competitive opening clash.

India may field a youthful bowling attack featuring Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. Rohit and Jaiswal are expected to open, with Virat Kohli at No. 3. KL Rahul will likely slot into a finishing role at No. 6, keeping the middle order flexible depending on match conditions and partnerships.

The Ranchi pitch is expected to offer something for both batters and bowlers. Fast bowlers may get help from early bounce, while spinners could become more influential as the match progresses. Dew remains a key factor, potentially making chasing easier under lights if the ball becomes skiddy.

Rohit Sharma makes his highly anticipated return to ODI cricket after opting out of T20Is and Tests earlier this year. ODI cricket remains his strongest format, and with the 2027 World Cup in sight, this series could mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Indian captain’s limited-overs legacy.