Ind vs SA 1st ODI : Ro-Ko Show Stops the Winning Streak of Proteas
India secured a pulsating 17-run victory over South Africa in the series opener at JSCA International Stadium, Ranchi, on November 30, 2025, posting 349/8 before restricting the visitors to 332 all out. Virat Kohli’s masterful 135 off 120 balls anchored the innings, marking his 52nd ODI century, while South Africa’s lower order mounted a record chase that fell agonizingly short.
South Africa won the toss and elected to field on a flat pitch offering true bounce initially, which later slowed, favoring batsmen throughout. The match produced an ODI record aggregate of 681 runs and 28 sixes, surpassing previous highs set in 2015.
India vs South Africa - 1st ODI • Ranchi
South Africa tour of India, 2025 • 30 November 2025
A batting masterclass sets the tone
India, put in to bat, looked steady right from the first over. Rohit Sharma played his usual high-quality strokes, but it was Virat Kohli who owned the evening. Walking in early, he absorbed pressure, controlled the tempo, and later unleashed the kind of acceleration that only he seems to time perfectly.
Kohli’s 135 off 120 balls was a masterclass in one-day batting. Eleven boundaries and seven sixes raced off his bat, each stroke showcasing control more than brute force. His partnership with Rohit stabilized India after a cautious start. The two added 136 runs, keeping South Africa’s bowlers searching for answers.
As Kohli moved through gears, South Africa struggled with their lengths. Anything short was pulled or whipped, and anything full was driven with assurance. By the time he reached his century — his 52nd in ODIs, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar — the stadium erupted. The shot that brought up the milestone, a crisp flick off the pads, felt like a moment destined to be replayed for years.
KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with busy cameos, ensuring India didn’t lose momentum at the death. Although wickets fell at intervals, India managed a healthy 349/8, a total that felt slightly above par but not unreachable on a good batting surface.
South Africa crumble early
The chase, however, began in disaster for the visitors. Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana combined for a fiery new-ball burst that ripped through the top order. Within five overs, South Africa were 11/3, their biggest names back in the pavilion. The ball was swinging, the Indian crowd was roaring, and the match seemed to be drifting towards a one-sided affair. Tony De Zorzi and Matthew Breetzke tried to stable the ship as they put on 66 runs till the 15th over, before Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Zorzi.
I.C.Y.M.I
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 30, 2025
🎥 Harshit Rana's twin strikes that gave #TeamIndia a solid start with the ball ✌️
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/MdXtGgRkPo#INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/NywoMMuy26
Brevis brings the fight
In walked Dewald Brevis, and suddenly the rhythm of the match shifted. Brevis played with the audacity he is known for — stepping out, cutting hard, and driving fearlessly. He counter-attacked with such clarity that India were forced to spread the field far earlier than they wanted.
Matthew Breetzke joined him, and the pair stitched a partnership that resurrected the chase from the ruins. The momentum returned to South Africa, and for a brief phase, India looked rattled. Brevis targeted the spinners, using his feet beautifully, while Breetzke played a calmer role, rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries.
The Jansen storm
If Brevis steadied the innings, Marco Jansen brought pure chaos.
Walking in with a mountain still to climb, he decided to turn the chase into a power-hitting exhibition. Jansen smashed a fifty in just 12 balls, a spell of batting so violent that even the Indian crowd couldn’t help but gasp. His sixes were massive — straight, clean, and flat enough to pierce the night sky.
For a few overs, India genuinely lost control. Bowlers were under pressure, fields were being shifted frantically, and South Africa suddenly needed only around a run-a-ball with wickets in hand.
The match had turned.
Kuldeep’s moment of magic
And then, as often happens in the subcontinent, it was spin that dragged India back. Kuldeep Yadav, who had bowled with excellent rhythm all evening, delivered the turning point of the match. In a single over that will be remembered as the climax of the contest, he removed both Jansen and Breetzke, ending South Africa’s surge abruptly.
Jansen fell trying to clear long-off once too often, and Breetzke, who had been the calm anchor, was undone by sharp turn. The crowd erupted — India sensed the door opening again.
Yet South Africa weren’t done. The tail fought on bravely, stealing boundaries, pushing for twos, and keeping the chase alive until the very end.
A tense finish under lights
With 19 needed off the last 10 balls, the match was still hanging in the balance. Prasidh Krishna, handed the crucial final over, kept a tight line. When the penultimate ball went high towards long-on, Rohit Sharma steadied himself and held the catch cleanly. The stadium thundered. South Africa were bowled out, falling short by just 17 runs.
What seemed like an easy Indian win early in the night had turned into a dramatic scrap for survival.
Game, set, match! 💪
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 30, 2025
Prasidh Krishna bags the final wicket as #TeamIndia clinch a thrilling contest in Ranchi to go 1⃣-0⃣ up 🙌
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