India vs South Africa, World Cup 2023: Virat Kohli's ton, Ravindra Jadeja's five-fer help Men in Blue thump Proteas

A Virat Kohli century on his birthday coupled with a splendid performance from the bowlers helped India outplay South Africa in a 2023 World Cup round-robin match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday. Chasing a total of 327, South Africa were bowled out for 83 in 27.1 overs overs. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers, with figures of 5/33. The in-form Mohammed Shami and Mohammad Siraj also chipped in with wickets. The South Africans struggled to forge partnerships as the Indian bowlers ran riot in Kolkata. Quinton de Kock was the first one to fall after being cleaned up by Siraj in the second over. Skipper Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen then played cautiously, before Bavuma was cleaned up by a turning ball from Ravindra Jadeja. In less than an over since losing Bavuma, South Africa lost Aiden Markram after he was edged and caught by KL Rahul off Shami’s delivery. Heinrich Klaasen, who scored a century against England earlier in the World Cup, could not replicate that kind of form as he was struck LBW by Ravindra Jadeja in the 13th over. Klaasen was originally given not out by the on-field umpire, but a review from India did the trick. India’s review worked, as ball-tracking showed that it was pitching on leg, and hitting the leg stump. South Africa were 40/4 after Klaasen departed, and went onto lose Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller in a gap of just three overs, to eventually drown to a total of 59/6. Following Miller’s dismissal in the 17th over, it was all but over for the Proteas as far as their batting was concerned. Jadeja then went onto collect his fifth wicket, with a caught and bowled dismissal of Kagiso Rabada in the 27th over. Not long after, the Proteas were bundled out for 83 in the 28th over. Earlier, an unbeaten knock of 101 from Virat Kohli propelled India to a total of 326/5 in 50 overs. With the century, Kohli equalled Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries. Kohli came into bat in the sixth over following Rohit Sharma’s dismissal. After a short-lived partnership with Shubman Gill, Kohli would go onto build a 134-run stand with Shreyas Iyer for the third wicket. Kohli kept frustrating the South African bowlers with regular boundaries, before eventually getting to his fifty with a single off Keshav Maharaj in the 29th over. Following his fifty, even if boundaries only came at regular intervals from Kohli, the former India skipper kept calm despite wickets falling at the other end, and showcased his resilience during his knock. Kohli would then go onto score his century off 119 balls, with a punch towards cover for a single off Rabada’s ball in the 49th over. Shreyas Iyer, meanwhile, got off to a rather slow start against the Proteas, taking on the spinners Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi cautiously, and dealing with just the ones and twos initially. Iyer would then go onto hit Shamsi for a boundary in the 22nd over, before slamming over Shamsi’s head for a six in the 28th over. Boundaries continued coming at regular intervals for Iyer, until he reached his fifty in the 31st over, with a four off Marco Jansen’s ball. Iyer was dismissed by Lungi Ngidi in the 37th over after holing out to Aiden Markram at mid-on. KL Rahul never really got going, and Suryakumar Yadav (22) failed to convert what was an aggressive start, scoring five boundaries. In the end, it was Ravindra Jadeja (29*) who remained till the conclusion  of India’s innings, in what was yet another exciting batting display to witness from the Men in Blue, especially Virat Kohli.