Virat Kohli proved there is a great deal remaining in his illustrious career with a stunning innings of 135 from 120 balls to lead India to a daunting 349-8 and victory by 17 runs in the first of three one-day internationals against South Africa at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi on Sunday.
Marco Jansen hammered a startling 70 from just 39 balls and Corbin Bosch belted 67 from 51 in reply to give the tourists late and unexpected hope but the mountain was too steep and South Africa were dismissed for 332 in 49.2 overs.
Kohli’s 52nd century in the format was as formidable as any in the 36-year-old’s remarkable career containing 11 fours and seven sixes and, as always, a rock solid composure which meant he never looked remotely threatened until advancing to Nandre Burger and slicing a drive to extra cover.
He added 136 for the second wicket with fellow veteran Rohit Sharma who looked similarly revitalised while blasting 57 from just 51 balls after retiring from both test and T20 cricket.
The two superstars took the total to 80-1 at the end of the 10-over Power Play.
Doing what he does best! 🫡
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 30, 2025
For his record-extending 5⃣2⃣nd ODI hundred, Virat Kohli is adjudged the Player of the Match! 👌
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/MdXtGgRkPo#TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/xqf6rlIPsM
JANSEN, BOSCH NEARLY TAKE SA HOME
South Africa’s run chase began in calamitous fashion, plunging to 11-3 in the fifth over with seamer Harshit Rana striking twice in his first over to bowl Ryan Rickelton with his first ball and have Quinton de Kock caught behind with his third.
When captain for the day, Aiden Markram (7), edged left-armer Arshdeep Singh to ‘keeper KL Rahul an early finish loomed but Matthew Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi (39 from 35 balls) added 66 for the fourth wicket to stem the flow before wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav trapped De Zorzi lbw.
Dewald Brevis scored even more briskly with two fours and three sixes decorating his 37 from just 28 balls but when a sliced drive was caught on the cover boundary the target was still 220 runs away at 130-5 and the result again looked a formality.
But Jansen had other ideas.
With nothing to lose he immediately launched into all of the bowlers, reaching 50 from just 26 deliveries and adding 97 with Matthew Breetzke for the sixth wicket.
Suddenly the asking rate was ‘manageable’ and Jansen added 20 more from the next 13 balls before heaving wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav to deep square leg to depart with eight fours and three sixes.
Two balls later Breetzke was caught at long on for a composed 72 from 80 balls and, yet again, India seemed on course for a comfortable victory.
But yet more spirited hitting from Corbin Bosch (67 from 51 balls) left South Africa needing 18 from the final over bowled by Prasidh Krishna.
Bosch needed to score them all in boundaries with number 11 Baartman as company but the miracle did not happen as he sliced the second ball to cover.
KING KOHLI
Earlier Rohit was dropped on one by De Zorzi at deep square leg off a Nandre Burger short delivery but was quickly into his stride with consecutive slog swept sixes against offspinner Prenelan Subrayen and another hooked maximum against Jansen who had the consolation of trapping him lbw.
But there was no stopping Kolhi who straight drove Subrayen for another six to move into the 70s before an extraordinary upper-cut for six over backward point against Bosch brought him yet another.
He celebrated his century with 6,6,4 from the final three balls of Subrayen’s 10th over to leave the bowler licking his wounds with 0-73.
6⃣, 6⃣, 4⃣ 🔥
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 30, 2025
🎥 Enjoy some more brilliance from Virat Kohli's magnificent 135(120) 👏
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Ruturaj Gaikwad (8) was sensationally caught, one-handed, by Dewald Brevis at backward point off Ottneil Baartman while a subdued Washington Sundar (13 from 19 balls) drove the same bowler to Bosch at mid off as the Proteas fought back.
"That's an absolute blinder."
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) November 30, 2025
Dewald Brevis with a remarkable catch against India in the first ODI 🤲🔥#INDVSA | #SSCricket pic.twitter.com/T6BqrGip3t
Captain KL Rahul, however, was merely biding his time in the unfamiliar position of No 6 but came to life with a pair of fours and a trio of sixes - including an outrageous reverse sweep against Jansen - to reach 60 from 56 balls.
A second attempt at the shot ended in the gloves of De Kock.
Ravindra Jadeja bashed 32 from 20 balls (2x4, 1x6) before punching a Bosch full toss to Aiden Markram at long off and Bosch delivered the perfect yorker to tailender Arshdeep Singh to finish with 2-66 from his ten overs.
Markram, captaining in place of the rested Temba Bavuma, used only five bowlers with Jansen claiming 2-76, Burger 2-65 and Baartman 2-60.
INDIA: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (captain/wkt), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
SOUTH AFRICA: Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Aiden Markram (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman