In a heart-stopping finish at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi, pacer Prasidh Krishna held his nerve in the final over to secure a 17-run victory for India against a resilient South Africa. Chasing a huge target of 350, the visitors fell short and were dismissed for 332 with only four balls left, giving India a 1-0 lead in the ODI series. The match mixed brilliant batting, a strong middle-overs fightback, and a tense finish.
How Did India Defend the Big Total?
The victory was built on the back of a collective bowling effort that peaked at crucial moments. With South Africa needing 18 from the final six balls, Prasidh Krishna stepped up. After a dot ball, he clean-bowled the dangerous Corbin Bosch for 67, effectively ending the Proteas’ challenge. This final act was created by Kuldeep Yadav’s superb spell, in which he claimed four wickets, including two in one over that shifted the momentum completely and firmly in India’s favour. Earlier, Arshdeep Singh and debutant Harshit Rana provided key breakthroughs to keep the pressure on.
1ST ODI. India Won by 17 Run(s) https://t.co/MdXtGgRkPo #TeamIndia #INDvSA #1stODI @IDFCfirstbank
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 30, 2025
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What Was the Turning Point of the Chase?
South Africa’s chase was a story of several fiery starts that were consistently halted by Indian bowlers. Just as Marco Jansen’s blistering 26-ball fifty threatened to take the game away, Kuldeep Yadav struck. He dismissed the well-set Matthew Breetzke and Jansen in one over, taking full control of the match. That double blow became the turning point, breaking South Africa’s resistance and keeping India ahead even as several partnerships tried to bring them back.
Who Set Up the Game for India?
India’s triumph was driven by their batters, with Virat Kohli taking charge yet again. In a top-class effort, Kohli struck a superb 135, reaching his 52nd ODI ton and helping India put up a solid total of 349 for 8. He had excellent support from captain KL Rahul, who delivered an important 60-run cameo, and Rohit Sharma, who hit a fluent fifty and broke the ODI sixes record. Their performances energized the spectators and prepared the atmosphere for an exciting, high-voltage Sunday contest that lived up to expectations.
Did South Africa’s Bowlers Have Any Answers?
Although the Indian batsmen controlled most of the innings, South Africa’s bowlers had some bright moments. Nandre Burger struck early by removing the attacking Yashasvi Jaiswal. The standout effort in the field came from Dewald Brevis, who pulled off a stunning diving catch to dismiss his Chennai Super Kings captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad. Still, they failed to stop the Kohli-Rahul partnership and couldn’t maintain pressure at the death, ultimately letting India reach a winning total in the closing moments.
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What’s Next in the Series?
With a 1-0 lead in hand, India will now try to clinch the contest in the second ODI. The venue shifts to the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, with the game slated for Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 1:30 PM IST. The final ODI will be played at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, December 6, 2025. Once the ODI leg ends, the two teams will begin a five-match T20 International series on December 9.
