India defeated South Africa by 17 runs in a nail-biting first ODI at Ranchi’s JSCA International Stadium on November 30, 2025. Virat Kohli’s majestic 135 off 120 balls—his record-breaking 52nd ODI century—anchored India’s commanding total of 349/8. Kuldeep Yadav’s magical 4/68 spell proved decisive as India defended their target despite a late scare from Marco Jansen (70 off 39) and Corbin Bosch (67 off 51). Following the match, Kohli firmly dismissed rumours of a Test comeback, stating: “That’s how it’s always going to be. I’m just playing one form of the game.”
There are cricket matches… and then there are India vs South Africa showdowns — the kind that make your heart pound like a Bluetooth speaker on full bass. The 1st ODI in Ranchi was a full-blown thriller, packed with tension, drama, and a nail-biting 17-run win for India that felt far closer than the numbers suggest.
Front and centre was Virat Kohli, smashing a majestic 135 to remind everyone why he still rules ODI cricket. And just as fans began hoping for a Test comeback, he shut it down with a firm “Not happening.”
With Harshit Rana’s fiery opening burst, Kuldeep Yadav’s spin magic, and a final over that had fans pacing like exam-takers, this match had everything. Missed the action? Don’t worry — this blog breaks down every big moment with fun, flavour, and full detail.
Match Summary: How India Clinched the Thriller in Ranchi
The first ODI of the three-match series delivered everything cricket fans could ask for—centuries, record-breaking performances, dramatic collapses, and a heart-stopping finish.
South Africa won the toss and elected to field first under lights, hoping to exploit evening dew conditions. Stand-in captain Aiden Markram’s strategy backfired spectacularly as India’s top order delivered a masterclass.
Yashasvi Jaiswal provided a brisk start, smashing the first ball for a boundary before falling to Nandre Burger for 18 runs. This brought together the legendary duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who produced a magnificent 136-run partnership off just 109 balls for the second wicket.
Rohit contributed a well-crafted 57 off 51 balls, including five fours and three sixes. En route to his half-century, he broke Shahid Afridi’s long-standing record for most sixes in ODI cricket, taking his tally to 352 maximums.
However, Kohli was the undisputed star. The 37-year-old reached his fifty in just 48 balls, celebrated with characteristic intensity, and accelerated brilliantly to bring up his century off 102 deliveries. His final score of 135 included 11 fours and seven sixes—a vintage Kohli performance that silenced his critics.
| Team | Score | Top Scorer | Best Bowler | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 349/8 (50 overs) | Virat Kohli 135 (120) | Kuldeep Yadav 4/68 | Won by 17 runs |
| South Africa | 332 all out (49.2 overs) | Matthew Breetzke 72 (80) | Ottneil Baartman 2/60 | Lost by 17 runs |
KL Rahul, captaining the side in Shubman Gill’s absence, contributed a crucial 60 off 56 balls batting at number six. His first half-century at this position vindicated head coach Gautam Gambhir’s controversial batting order decisions. Ravindra Jadeja’s cameo of 32 off 20 balls provided the finishing flourish.
Top Run Scorers in India vs South Africa 1st ODI 2025 – Kohli’s 135 leads the chart
South Africa’s Brave Chase Falls Short
South Africa’s pursuit of 350 began disastrously. Harshit Rana produced a sensational opening over, dismissing both Ryan Rickelton (0) and Quinton de Kock (0) to reduce the visitors to 2/2. When Arshdeep Singh trapped captain Aiden Markram for just seven runs in the fifth over, South Africa were reeling at 11/3.
What followed was an extraordinary fightback. Matthew Breetzke, playing just his tenth ODI, anchored the innings with a composed 72 off 80 balls. The 27-year-old’s ability to absorb pressure while finding boundaries proved invaluable.
The match’s most electrifying passage came from Marco Jansen. The tall left-arm seamer transformed into a destructive batsman, smashing his way to 70 off just 39 balls. His half-century arrived in merely 26 balls—one of the fastest fifties by a South African in ODIs. Jansen’s partnership of 97 runs with Breetzke in just 69 balls threatened to steal the match.
Kuldeep Yadav delivered the decisive blow. In one devastating over, he dismissed both set batters—Jansen and Breetzke—in the span of three balls. This double strike broke South Africa’s momentum and essentially sealed the match for India.
Corbin Bosch refused to surrender, hammering a valiant 67 off 51 balls that kept South Africa in the hunt until the final over. Needing 18 off the last six balls, Prasidh Krishna held his nerve, and Rohit Sharma pouched the final catch to seal India’s 17-run victory.
Virat Kohli Breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s Historic Record
Kohli’s 135 wasn’t just match-winning—it was history-making. The century took his ODI hundred tally to 52, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 51 Test centuries for the most hundreds in any single format of international cricket.
This remarkable achievement cements Kohli’s status as ODI cricket’s greatest centurion. His 52 hundreds came in 294 innings, maintaining an extraordinary average of 58.02.
| Record | Holder | Previous | New Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most ODI centuries in single format | Virat Kohli | 51 (Sachin Tendulkar – Tests) | 52 ODI centuries |
| Most sixes in ODI cricket | Rohit Sharma | 351 (Shahid Afridi) | 352 sixes |
| Most ODI centuries against South Africa | Virat Kohli | 5 (Tendulkar/Warner) | 6 centuries vs SA |
| Most 50+ scores in ODIs in India | Virat Kohli | 58 (Sachin Tendulkar) | 59 fifty-plus scores |
| Most ODI centuries at home (India) | Virat Kohli | 24 (Multiple) | 25 home centuries |
The century was Kohli’s sixth ODI hundred against South Africa, surpassing Tendulkar and David Warner, who had five each. It also marked his 25th ODI century at home—the first player to reach this landmark in the 50-over format.
His innings demonstrated the mental sharpness that has defined his career. Speaking after the match, Kohli revealed his preparation philosophy: “I have never been a believer of a lot of preparation. All my cricket has been mental. If you’re in touch with the game, if you bat for an hour or two in the nets, you know you’re good.”
Kohli Shuts Down Test Return Rumours Permanently
The century sparked renewed speculation about Kohli reversing his Test retirement to help India recover from their recent slump in red-ball cricket. Following India’s humiliating 0-2 home series defeat to South Africa in Tests just days earlier, former England star Kevin Pietersen had posted on X: “If it’s half true that both Virat and Rohit are considering playing Test cricket again, then it needs to be taken very, very seriously.”
However, Kohli used the post-match presentation to definitively end all speculation.
When commentator Harsha Bhogle asked whether he remained committed to playing only one format, Kohli’s response was blunt and decisive: “Yes, that’s how it’s always going to be. I’m just playing one form of the game.”
The 37-year-old retired from Test cricket earlier in 2025 after 123 Tests, 30 centuries, and 9,230 runs—falling agonisingly short of the 10,000-run milestone. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has also categorically denied approaching either Kohli or Rohit Sharma about a Test comeback.
Former teammate Ravichandran Ashwin supported Kohli’s decision, stating on his YouTube channel: “Whatever decision he has made, he has taken it. To keep going back to that is not the right thing to do. A lot of players have come in, and the team has entered a transition. It is about moving forward.”
Bowling Heroes: Kuldeep Yadav’s Match-Turning Spell
While Kohli’s century grabbed headlines, Kuldeep Yadav’s 4/68 proved the difference between the two sides.
The left-arm wrist spinner’s figures include a remarkable record against South Africa—31 wickets in 14 matches at an average of just 16.58. No other Indian bowler has taken 30 or more wickets against an opponent at a better average in ODIs.
Kuldeep now holds the record for the most four-wicket-plus hauls for India against a single opponent in ODIs, with four such performances against South Africa.
His crucial wickets of Tony de Zorzi (39), Marco Jansen (70), Matthew Breetzke (72), and Prenelan Subrayen (17) came at pivotal moments. The back-to-back dismissals of Jansen and Breetzke in the 34th over shifted the match decisively in India’s favour.
Harshit Rana deserves equal credit. His figures of 3/65 included the wickets of Rickelton, de Kock, and Brevis. India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak praised the youngster: “I think a lot of credit goes to Harshit for taking those early wickets, because otherwise it would have been quite easy for them to score runs in such heavy dew.”
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuldeep Yadav | 10 | 68 | 4 | 6.80 |
| Harshit Rana | 10 | 65 | 3 | 6.50 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 10 | 64 | 2 | 6.40 |
| Prasidh Krishna | 7.2 | 48 | 1 | 6.55 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 9 | 66 | 0 | 7.33 |
India vs South Africa ODI Series 2025: Complete Schedule
The three-match ODI series forms part of South Africa’s comprehensive tour of India. Following their 2-0 Test series victory, the Proteas will be looking to continue their dominance in the white-ball format.
| Match | Date | Venue | Start Time (IST) | Result/Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | November 30, 2025 | JSCA Stadium, Ranchi | 1:30 PM | India won by 17 runs |
| 2nd ODI | December 3, 2025 | Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium, Raipur | 1:30 PM | Upcoming |
| 3rd ODI | December 6, 2025 | ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam | 1:30 PM | Upcoming |
The series will be followed by a five-match T20I series starting December 9, 2025, in Cuttack.
Where to Watch: Star Sports Network (TV), JioHotstar (streaming), DD Sports (free telecast).
India vs South Africa ODI Head-to-Head Record – 94 matches played
India vs South Africa: Historical ODI Rivalry
The ODI rivalry between India and South Africa spans 94 matches since 1991, South Africa’s first match after readmission into international cricket.
South Africa currently leads the head-to-head with 51 wins compared to India’s 40, with three matches ending without t result. However, India has dominated recent encounters, winning three of the last five bilateral ODI series between the two nations.
Some memorable moments from this rivalry include:
- South Africa’s 438/4 at Johannesburg in 2015—one of cricket’s greatest ODI batting displays
- India’s 401/3 at Gwalior in 2010—India’s highest total against South Africa
- AB de Villiers’ 149 off 44 balls—the fastest 150 in ODI history
- Yuzvendra Chahal’s 5/22 at Centurion in 2018—India’s best bowling performance in South Africa
Key Takeaways: What This Match Tells Us
India’s Experience Factor
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s combined contribution of 192 runs demonstrated why India continues to rely on their veteran stars in ODI cricket. Captain KL Rahul acknowledged this after the match: “It is always fun to see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing with that freedom. They have made oppositions look silly.”
South Africa’s Middle-Order Depth
Despite the top-order collapse, South Africa’s fight through Breetzke, Jansen, and Bosch revealed significant batting depth. Matthew Breetzke’s emergence—614 runs in just 10 ODIs at an average of 68.22—positions him as a future star.
India’s Bowling Concerns
The 332 runs conceded by India’s bowlers, despite taking early wickets, exposed vulnerabilities. The heavy dew made bowling difficult in the second innings, and India’s spinners struggled during the Jansen-Breetzke partnership.
The Transition Challenge
Following the Test series debacle, this ODI victory provides temporary relief. However, questions remain about India’s future planning, particularly with Rohit (38) and Kohli (37) now playing only ODIs while the team searches for their successors.
Conclusion
India’s 17-run victory in Ranchi represents more than just a series lead—it marks a redemption arc after the devastating 0-2 Test series whitewash. Virat Kohli’s record-breaking 52nd ODI century answered critics who questioned his current form, while his firm stance on Test retirement brought clarity to a swirling debate.
The match showcased the best of ODI cricket: Kohli’s masterclass in batting, Kuldeep Yadav’s match-turning spell, Harshit Rana’s new-ball burst, and South Africa’s courageous fightback through Jansen and Bosch.
Key Action Points for Fans:
- Watch the 2nd ODI on December 3, 2025, at Raipur (1:30 PM IST on Star Sports/JioHotstar)
- Follow Kohli’s chase of Sachin Tendulkar’s 100 international centuries—he currently has 83
- Monitor Breetzke’s development—the South African youngster is averaging 68+ in ODIs
- Track India’s World Cup preparations—this series is crucial for the 2027 ODI World Cup planning
As the series moves to Raipur, India will look to seal it with another dominant performance, while South Africa must regroup after letting a winnable position slip. One thing is certain—with Kohli in this form, India’s ODI cricket remains in exceptional hands.
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