India Win Ranchi Thriller to Go 1-0 Up in ODI Series: India started their home ODI series against South Africa in style, winning a high-scoring thriller by 17 runs at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi. More than 680 runs were scored in the match, but in the end, India held their nerve to defend 349/8, bowling South Africa out for 332 in 49.2 overs.
The night belonged to Virat Kohli, who produced a classic innings under pressure, and Kuldeep Yadav, who broke South Africa’s middle-order resistance at a crucial time.
RO-KO Show: Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli Dominate
Asked to bat first after South Africa won the toss, India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early once again to Nandre Burger. But that only set the stage for a vintage partnership between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
- Rohit Sharma scored a fluent 57 off 51 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes).
- He was dropped on 1 by Tony de Zorzi and made South Africa pay for that mistake.
- Along with Kohli, he added a 136-run stand for the second wicket, giving India a strong foundation.
Once Rohit departed, Kohli took complete control.
Virat Kohli’s 135: A Masterclass Under Pressure
Batting at No. 3, Virat Kohli looked in complete command from the start. He mixed caution with aggression, rotated the strike smartly, and punished every loose delivery.
- 135 runs off 120 balls
- 11 fours and 7 sixes
- Brought up his 52nd ODI hundred and 83rd international century
Kohli shifted gears beautifully after his fifty, attacking the South African bowlers all around the ground. His innings was the backbone of India’s total and rightly earned him the Player of the Match award.
KL Rahul & Jadeja Finish Strong
India did suffer a mini-collapse in the middle:
- Ruturaj Gaikwad fell cheaply, thanks to a brilliant catch from Dewald Brevis.
- Washington Sundar also couldn’t make an impact.
However, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja stepped up to ensure India did not waste Kohli’s big knock.
- KL Rahul (Captain): 60 off 53 balls – slow start, but finished strongly with boundaries in the death overs and built partnerships with Kohli and Jadeja.
- Ravindra Jadeja: 32 off 20 balls – a valuable late cameo that helped India cross 340.
Despite a few late wickets, India posted a huge total of 349/8 in 50 overs, putting scoreboard pressure on South Africa.
South Africa’s Nightmare Start: 11/3
Chasing 350, South Africa had the worst possible start.
- Harshit Rana swung the ball beautifully with the new ball.
- He dismissed Ryan Rickelton (0) and Quinton de Kock (0) in quick time.
- Arshdeep Singh then got rid of captain Aiden Markram (7).
At 11/3, India were fully on top, and the Ranchi crowd was roaring.
Breetzke, de Zorzi & Brevis Fight Back
South Africa’s middle order refused to give up.
- Matthew Breetzke played a high-quality knock of 72 off 80 balls with 8 fours and 1 six.
- Tony de Zorzi scored 39 off 35 balls, counter-attacking with attractive strokes.
- Dewald Brevis added 37 off 28 balls, keeping the asking rate within reach.
Breetzke stitched together three key partnerships:
- 66-run stand with de Zorzi
- 53-run stand with Brevis
- 97-run stand with Marco Jansen
At one stage, South Africa had recovered from 11/3 to a position where they were very much in the game.
Marco Jansen & Corbin Bosch Nearly Pull Off a Miracle
The real twist in the chase came from the lower order.
- Marco Jansen smashed a stunning 70 off just 39 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes).
- He took on both pace and spin, silencing the Ranchi crowd and putting serious pressure back on India.
After Jansen’s dismissal, Corbin Bosch took over the responsibility:
- Corbin Bosch scored 67 off 51 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes).
- He farmed the strike cleverly with Prenelan Subrayen (17 off 16) and Nandre Burger (17 off 23).
- South Africa kept coming closer: 72 needed off 48, then 50 off 36, 38 off 24, 27 off 12, and finally 18 needed off the last over.
Bosch kept refusing singles at times to keep strike, backing himself to finish the game. He kept Indian fans and players under big pressure till the end.
READ MORE: Virat Kohli vs Australia in ODI
Kuldeep, Arshdeep & Krishna Seal It for India
When the game looked like it was slipping away, India’s bowlers delivered under pressure.
Kuldeep Yadav was the key:
- Figures: 10-0-68-4
- Dismissed Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, and Prenelan Subrayen.
- His double-strike in the 34th over (Jansen and Breetzke) changed the momentum back in India’s favour.
Harshit Rana also played a big role:
- 10-0-65-3
- Took early wickets and kept coming back with clever changes of pace at the death.
Arshdeep Singh:
- 10-1-64-2
- Delivered a crucial wicket-maiden in the 47th over, removing Nandre Burger and keeping Baartman on strike.
Finally, it came down to Prasidh Krishna with 18 runs to defend in the 50th over.
- He bowled a dot first ball.
- Then, on 49.2, he bowled a full delivery which Corbin Bosch sliced high towards extra cover.
- Rohit Sharma held a pressure catch in the deep, and South Africa were bowled out for 332, handing India a 17-run win.
Key Stats from IND vs SA 1st ODI 2025
Match Summary
| Team | Score | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 349/8 | 50.0 | Won by 17 runs |
| South Africa | 332 all out | 49.2 | Chasing 350 |
Top Performers – Batting
| Team | Player | Runs (Balls) | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | Virat Kohli | 135 (120) | 11 | 7 |
| India | Rohit Sharma | 57 (51) | 5 | 3 |
| India | KL Rahul | 60 (53) | – | – |
| India | Ravindra Jadeja | 32 (20) | – | – |
| South Africa | Matthew Breetzke | 72 (80) | 8 | 1 |
| South Africa | Marco Jansen | 70 (39) | 8 | 3 |
| South Africa | Corbin Bosch | 67 (51) | 5 | 4 |
| South Africa | Tony de Zorzi | 39 (35) | 7 | 0 |
| South Africa | Dewald Brevis | 37 (28) | 2 | 3 |
(Dashes mean exact 4/6 count not specified in your data.)
Top Performers – Bowling (India)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuldeep Yadav | 10.0 | 0 | 68 | 4 | 6.80 |
| Harshit Rana | 10.0 | 0 | 65 | 3 | 6.50 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 10.0 | 1 | 64 | 2 | 6.40 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 7.2 | 1 | 48 | 1 | 6.55 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 9.0 | 0 | 66 | 0 | 7.33 |
| Washington Sundar | 3.0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 6.00 |
Records & Milestones from the Ranchi ODI
- Virat Kohli registered his 52nd ODI century and 83rd international hundred.
- Kohli also moved to 44 Player of the Match awards in ODIs, closing in further on Sachin Tendulkar’s 62.
- This match produced the highest match aggregate in India vs South Africa ODIs: 681 runs in Ranchi, 2025.
- Kuldeep Yadav now has the most 4+ wicket hauls for India against a single opponent in ODIs, with 4 four-wicket hauls vs South Africa.
- India’s 17-run win also features among their narrower-run-margin wins vs South Africa in ODIs.
What This Win Means for India
This victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series and sends a strong message ahead of the 2025–26 season.
- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli showed they still have the hunger and class to dominate top attacks.
- KL Rahul impressed once again as captain and wicketkeeper.
- Harshit Rana proved he belongs at international level with the new ball.
- Kuldeep Yadav continues to be India’s vital wicket-taking option in the middle overs.
For South Africa, there are positives in the form of Breetzke, Jansen, Bosch and Brevis, but they’ll need their top order to step up in the next game.
