After losing the Test series by a margin of 2-1, India faced hosts South Africaᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ at Kingsmead, Durban in th♐e ODI series opener.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli h🅷ad his task cut out to challenge 𝓰the Proteas in their own den.
After losing the toss, the Men in Blue had to take the field and restrict the hosts to a chasable total. It was the wrist-spinning duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and K🌃uldeep Yadav which did the captain up front by pickꩵing five wickets among themselves.
However, it was a brilliant century from Kohli’s counterpart, Faf du Plessis, which helped the South Africans to reach a challenging total of 270 in front of the Indians.
With the bat in hand, it was the chase master Virat Kohli who orchestrated India’s win with his 33rd ODI ton along with Ajinkya Rahane who smashed 79.
Both Rahane ﷽and Kohli stitched a matchwinning partnership of 189 runs as India won the match and took a 1-0 lead in the six-match series.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the first ODI:
Two great partnerships to take India to victory. First, along with and then wit♒h . Great work, boys. Keep up the momentum, .
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt)
Congratulations India. Very well done. A gre﷽💧at start to the series. Very happy for Rahane.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag)
Congratulations India on a very comprehensive victory. While K✃ohli and Rahane were outstanding, Chahal 🎃and Kuldeep ‘s spell was a big difference as well.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
Fabulous start to the series!! An all round effort in securing a big win. Another great century by the run machine, and a superb innings played by Ajཧju . Keep it up boys!@BCCI
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina)
Congratulations !! Setting the performance mark just higher & hi🌞gher with every match! This is why I love cricket! Also, you have been killing it!! It’s been an amazing season so far, well played !!
— Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor)
Super Stuff ! T꧙here is no looking back when the skippa takes charge 🙌 & ofc꧑ourse top knock bro👌
— Karun Nair (@karun126)
Of 's brilliance, what more can one say? Of 's ability to come good in demanding circumstances need one say more!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah)
Chase master Kohli strikes again! India's captain hits 112 to help his side take a 1-0 ODI series lead, beating hosts South Africa by 6 wickets in Durban! scorecard ➡️
— ICC (@ICC)
Grea💃t to see India’s best craftsman of overseas conditions proving his mettle yet again! This is Rahane’s fifth consecutive fifty.
— Parth Dhall (@parth2509)
As clinical as it gets. Thi♊s is not just a victory but a statement. Kohli and Rahane were outstanding.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)
“Tum𒐪he kya laga winning shot koi aur maarega ??”
— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega)
Gritty and a brilliant knock from Rahane.
Number 4️⃣ Spot Sealed and Packed once in for all befor🦋e the WC. Indian batters have treated the SA bowlers, the way they treated the SL bowlers back home.
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani)
Wht a chase u r undefeated warrior! Well Played too & Better Luck next time Shikhar Dhawan Gabbar! Format Changed Attitude Changed Congratulation … 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🏆
— Bollywood Khabri (@BwoodKhabri09)
Overjoyed to see Ajinkya Rahane play. Have always rated him and this is amongst his best one-day innings. Ran ꧋beautifully with Kohli and played the lofted hit remarkably. Did his job.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
'Tis the season of comebacks!
While the Royals are back in , is back as India's No. 4⃣⚡
He scored his 24th ODI 5⃣0⃣, totalling 7⃣9⃣ when India 🇮🇳 beat South Africa 🇿🇦 by 6⃣ wickets in yesterday's ODI!
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals)
Don't know if crowd is cheering Kohli going out to the Pavilion or Dhoni coming in to bat.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar)
Well 🍃of course the winning shot has to be by my MahiMan.. 𓃲
— Harneet Singh (@Harneetsin)
//twitter.com/Brokℱenpundit/status/959103034943971329
Dhoni is making his final appearances at differ❀ent grounds of the wor☂ld by hitting ceremonial boundaries.
Long live the legend of MSD
— Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh)
