KL Rahul’s captaincy proved instrumental as India clinched a commanding 8-wicket win against South Africa at New Wanderers, Johannesburg. With this triumph, India takes a formidable 1-0 lead in the series, setting a strong tone for the matches ahead.
In a challenging match at the New Wanderers Stadium, South Africa faced a tough start after winning the toss, managing only 116 runs in 27.3 overs. Arshdeep’s remarkable performance in the opening over, dismissing Hendricks and van der Dussen, set the tone for India’s bowling dominance. Andile Phehlukwayo top-scored with 33 runs, while Tony DeGeorge contributed 28.
The South African batsmen struggled against the Indian bowlers, losing wickets consecutively. India’s bowling prowess was evident, with Arshdeep securing 5 wickets, Awais Khan impressively taking 4, and Kuldeep contributing with 1 wicket. The collective effort restricted South Africa and positioned India strongly in the match.
In a thrilling match, India successfully chased down the target of 116 runs against South Africa. Rituraj Gaikwad fell early, scoring just 5 runs, but Sudarshan, in his debut match, played an unbeaten inning of 55 runs. Shreyas Iyer contributed 52 runs off 45 balls.
India secured victory with 8 wickets remaining, reaching the target in 16.4 overs, losing only two wickets in the process. Notably, Sudarshan’s stellar performance and Iyer’s solid contribution played a crucial role in India’s triumph.
For South Africa, Wiann Mulder and Phehlukwayo each managed to take one wicket, but it wasn’t enough to stop India’s determined chase.
best Moment today match
In a historic moment, Captain Rahul presented Sudarshan with the debut cap, marking the beginning of Sai Sudarshan’s journey as the 253rd player to represent India in ODIs. Sudarshan showcased his skills in the first ODI against South Africa, making a memorable debut for Team India.
