KL Rahul hits 60 against South Africa off just 56 balls, featuring 2 fours and 3 massive sixes.
KL Rahul’s Late Flourish Seals Thrilling Win: India Edge South Africa by 17 Runs in 1st ODI
Ranchi, November 30, 2025 – The curtain rose on the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa with a high-octane thriller at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. In a contest that saw a record-breaking century, a historic milestone, and a nail-biting finish, it was India, led by a crucial late flourish from captain KL Rahul, who ultimately clinched a narrow 17-run victory to take a 1-0 series lead.
Opting to bat first, India posted a formidable total of 349/8 in their 50 overs, driven primarily by a majestic innings from veteran batsman Virat Kohli. However, it was the calculated aggression of stand-in skipper KL Rahul at number six that provided the vital late acceleration, ensuring the total was well beyond the 340-run mark.
The Anchor and The Accelerator
While the innings will be remembered for Virat Kohli’s historic 52nd ODI century (135 off 120 balls, 11 fours, 7 sixes) and his 136-run partnership with Rohit Sharma (57 off 51), Rahul’s contribution proved to be the difference-maker in the final overs. Coming in at a stage where quick runs were paramount, Rahul first had to contend with a period of controlled batting alongside Kohli before unleashing his power game.
The middle phase of the Indian innings, particularly after the quick dismissals of Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad, saw a brief lull. Rahul, batting at his now customary No. 6 position, absorbed the pressure, rotating the strike effectively while Kohli powered to his spectacular century. Once Kohli was dismissed for 135 in the 43rd over, the onus fell squarely on Rahul to maximize the final stretch.
KL Rahul hits 60 against South Africa
The shift in gear was clinical. Against the South African pace attack, which had managed to pull back the scoring rate in the middle overs, Rahul accelerated sharply. His knock of 60 runs came off just 56 balls, featuring 2 fours and 3 massive sixes. The 45th over proved to be a turning point, as Rahul hammered two sixes off Nandre Burger—one over deep backward square leg and another audacious inside-out hit—announcing his intent and pushing India past the 300-run mark.
His partnership with Ravindra Jadeja (32 off 20) added crucial late runs, lifting the run rate and demoralizing the Proteas fielders. Rahul’s innings ended only in the penultimate over, trying an innovative reverse-scoop off Marco Jansen, but his impactful fifty had already done the job, propelling India to a total that felt just out of reach for the chasing side.
South Africa’s Valiant Chase Falls Short
In response, South Africa’s chase started disastrously, reeling at 11/3 in the fifth over, courtesy of a fiery new-ball spell from Harshit Rana (3/65) and Arshdeep Singh. However, a stunning fightback from the middle and lower order, featuring Matthew Breetzke (72 off 80), Marco Jansen (70 off 39), and Corbin Bosch (67 off 51), transformed the match into a classic. Despite their brilliant efforts, the disciplined spin of Kuldeep Yadav (4/68), who broke the key partnerships, and India’s ability to take wickets at crucial junctures proved decisive.
The match went down to the wire, with South Africa needing 18 runs off the final over. However, Prasidh Krishna held his nerve, dismissing the dangerous Bosch on the second ball to secure the win and bundle out the Proteas for 332 in 49.2 overs.
KL Rahul’s captaincy and his timely half-century ensured that India’s senior batsmen’s efforts were not wasted, proving his increasing value in the team’s middle order and sealing a thrilling 17-run victory in the series opener.
