In a remarkable display of cricket, India successfully chased down a target of 271 runs against South Africa in the third ODI held in Visakhapatnam. This achievement marks India’s second-highest successful run chase in ODIs when losing just one wicket, following their highest chase of 360 runs against Australia in Jaipur back in 2013.
Kohli’s Six-Hitting Spree and Series Highlights
India’s nine-wicket victory equaled their largest win margin against South Africa, previously achieved in Centurion in 2018. It is noteworthy that this was only the ninth occasion South Africa has lost an ODI by nine or more wickets, with this specific target being their highest defeat in that manner.
- 271 – Target successfully chased by India.
- 9 – Number of wickets by which India won, tying their biggest margin against South Africa.
- 3 – Consecutive ODI series victories for India against South Africa, the first time achieving this feat.
Jaiswal Joins All-Format Centurions
Yashasvi Jaiswal made headlines by becoming the sixth Indian to score centuries in all three formats of the game. His impressive journey includes achieving his maiden ODI century in just four innings, which puts him alongside legends like Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma.
- 6 – Jaiswal’s ranking as the sixth Indian to notch hundreds in all formats.
- 7 – ODI centuries by Jaiswal in India, tying him with AB de Villiers for the most by any visiting player.
Kohli’s Record-Breaking Series
Virat Kohli has had a spectacular series as well, hitting a total of 12 sixes, the highest in a single series of his career. His performance in the series also contributed significantly to the 302 runs he scored, marking his first instance of surpassing 300 runs in a three-match ODI series.
- 12 – Sixes hit by Kohli in the series, his career best.
- 300 – Runs scored by Kohli in this series.
Rohit’s Milestones and Contributions
Rohit Sharma continues to build his legacy, scoring 5013 runs on Indian soil, making him only the fifth player to achieve this milestone in a single country. His partnership with Jaiswal, totaling 155 runs, stands as the second-highest opening partnership for India against South Africa in ODIs.
Bowling Achievements
On the bowling front, Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna made history, becoming only the second Indian pair to claim four or more wickets in a men’s ODI at home. Kuldeep’s four-wicket haul places him in record books, surpassing Anil Kumble’s previous best among Indian spinners.
- 4 – Wickets taken by Kuldeep Yadav, most by an Indian spinner in ODIs.
- 2 – Pairs of Indian bowlers with four-plus wickets at home.
As the ODI series concludes, India has demonstrated remarkable prowess both with the bat and ball, setting the stage for future contests. With players like Kohli, Jaiswal, and Rohit leading the charge, Indian cricket fans have much to look forward to.
