 "Sunil Gavaskar felt India still have room for improvement despite their 17-run victory over South Africa in the first ODI in Ranchi. Image credit: PTI/AP")
The Indian team gave their fans a reason to smile after suffering a 0-2 sweep in a Test series against South Africa by winning the first of three ODIs against the Proteas on Sunday. Batting superstar Virat Kohli led the way with a knock of 135 off 120 balls – his 52nd century in ODIs and 83rd across formats. He forged a 136-run second-wicket partnership with fellow veteran Rohit Sharma (57) as India posted a mammoth 349/8 on the board after they were invited to bat by stand-in South African captain Aiden Markram.
India were then staring at a mammoth victory after Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh’s early strikes reduced the Proteas to 11/3 during their chase. South Africa, however, managed to give India a scare despite the disastrous start, producing a superb fightback thanks to their middle and lower order.
ODI sensation Matthew Breetzke (72) and all-rounders Marco Jansen (70) and Corbin Bosch (67) struck half-centuries while Tony de Zorzi (39) and Dewald Brevis (37) chipped in with valuable contributions as the Proteas managed to drag the game till the final over, suffering a 17-run defeat in the end after getting bowled out for 332.
Gavaskar praises South Africa for incredible fightback in Ranchi
According to batting icon and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, the manner in which the Proteas nearly chased down 350 despite losing three wickets for just 11 runs was a warning sign for the KL Rahul-led hosts for the remaining games.
“South Africa’s fightback was fantastic to watch. Right till the end, till the last over, it was a question of touch and go, and you have got to admire the way that despite them being in dire straits, three wickets down for 11 runs. The way they have fought back, India better watch out for the next two games,” ‘Sunny G’ said during the post-match analysis on Star Sports.
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View AllJansen and Breetzke were cruising through the middle overs with their solid fifth-wicket partnership when Kuldeep Yadav removed both set batters in one over to stymie South Africa’s progress. Kuldeep finished the pick of the Indian bowlers once again with figures of 4/68 as the Indian bowlers, who were missing pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, held their nerve to deny the Proteas a third consecutive win across formats in their ongoing tour.
The two teams travel to Raipur for the second ODI, which will be taking place at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium on Wednesday. Visakhapatnam’s ACA-VCDA Stadium hosts the third and final ODI on Saturday, with the Men in Blue and the Proteas then facing off in a five-match T20I series that gets underway next week.