India vs South Africa: The first ODI between India and South Africa at the JSCA International Stadium Complex began with the visitors winning the toss and choosing to bowl. Both sides entered the match with contrasting situations. South Africa arrived with confidence after their Test series success and hoped to continue their momentum in the white-ball format. India, meanwhile, viewed the match as a chance to answer critics who have questioned their recent performances in limited-overs cricket.
Injuries forced India to rethink their plans. Shubman Gill’s neck injury and Shreyas Iyer’s absence meant that KL Rahul not only captained the side but also carried added responsibility in the middle order. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli now only playing ODIs in international cricket, the spotlight naturally shifted towards their experience and ability to handle pressure.
Virat Kohli’s 52nd ODI century, Kuldeep Yadav’s four wickets and Harshit Rana’s three-wicket burst secured India a 17-run win over South Africa in the first ODI on Sunday.
India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The second game will be played in Raipur on Wednesday.
Source: The Times of India
