Kohli’s Century Powers India to 349/8 Against South Africa in Opening ODI

Ranchi, Nov 2025 : India posted an impressive 349/8 in the first ODI against South Africa at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi, riding on a magnificent century by Virat Kohli and vital half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul.

South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first. India began with Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top. Jaiswal started positively, striking two fours and a six, but his promising stay ended early when he was caught behind by Quinton de Kock off Nandre Burger for 18 off 16 balls. India suffered their first setback on the very first ball of the fourth over.

With Jaiswal gone, Rohit and Kohli steadied the innings, delivering exactly what the Ranchi crowd had come to witness. The duo stitched together a brilliant 136-run stand for the second wicket, showcasing a full range of strokeplay—pulls, cuts, straight drives, and effortless flicks. Their fluent partnership not only lifted India’s scoring rate but also electrified the atmosphere in the stadium. During his knock, Rohit also broke the record for most sixes in ODI history.

Rohit eventually departed for a well-made 57 off 51 balls, decorated with five fours and three sixes, leaving India at 161/2. His dismissal triggered a brief wobble as India lost Ruturaj Gaikwad and Washington Sundar in quick succession. However, Kohli’s composure at the crease ensured the innings stayed on track.

Kohli then found solid support in KL Rahul. Together, they added 76 runs for the fifth wicket. During this partnership, Kohli reached his 52nd ODI hundred, a milestone he achieved off 102 balls. He continued to dominate the South African bowling attack before finally falling for a majestic 135 off 120 balls, an innings studded with 11 fours and seven sixes. This marked his sixth ODI century against South Africa, further strengthening his stellar record against the Proteas.

Following Kohli’s dismissal, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja accelerated the innings with a brisk 65-run stand off 36 balls for the sixth wicket. Rahul contributed a confident 60 from 56 balls, including three sixes and two fours, before being dismissed. Jadeja closed the innings strongly, scoring 32 off 20 balls, guiding India to a formidable total of 349/8 in 50 overs.

For South Africa, the bowling honours were evenly shared, with Marco Jansen, Nandre Burger, Corbin Bosch, and Ottneil Baartman picking up two wickets each.

India’s strong batting display has set South Africa a challenging 350-run target, promising an exciting chase in the series opener.