In a gripping opener at Ranchi, India posted a strong 349/8 in their 50 overs — powered by a brilliant century from Virat Kohli (135 off 120 balls) and supported by valuable contributions from Rohit Sharma (57) and KL Rahul (60). Their solid foundation put South Africa under pressure from the start.

In response, South Africa began shakily, losing three early wickets — but a determined fightback from Matthew Breetzke (72) and Marco Jansen (70) revived their chase. The contest remained alive until the final overs.

The turning point came when Kuldeep Yadav struck two crucial wickets in the same over, breaking a dangerous stand and shifting momentum back to India. Despite a late effort from lower-order batters, India held their nerve — the final blow came with a sharp yorker from Prasidh Krishna in the last over. South Africa fell short, finishing at 332, handing India a tense 17-run victory and a 1–0 lead in the series.

The match showcased a textbook combination of authoritative batting and disciplined bowling under pressure — underlining why India remain formidable at home when their veterans deliver and the bowling unit holds firm.