Jaiswal and Rohit along with Kohli lead India to series win as Kuldeep and Prasidh set up the victory with the ball.
Jaiswal and Rohit with Kohli lead India to 2-1 series win.
A simple change of routine proved decisive for India as KL Rahul flipped the coin with his left hand and, at last, broke their run of misfortune at the toss after 20 consecutive ODI defeats. Winning it for the first time in 21 matches, India capitalised with a crushing nine-wicket victory, underlining just how hard they had worked to stay alive in the series against South Africa despite being put at a disadvantage in the earlier games.
Prasidh Krishna, under pressure after a difficult run, sparked the shift in momentum by removing Quinton de Kock soon after his spectacular hundred. With conditions now suiting him, Kuldeep Yadav took full advantage of the dry ball, dismantling South Africa’s lower order and keeping them to 270 — a far cry from the 350-plus total they had flirted with during their innings.
With a modest chase in front of them, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal began cautiously, mindful of the prolonged movement off the surface and the delayed onset of dew compared to the earlier fixtures. Rohit guided the youngster through the early phase as Jaiswal adjusted to the rhythms of the 50-over format. The captain’s stay, however, ended before he could witness Jaiswal’s serene march toward his first ODI century.
Ultimately, the contest defied the lazy narrative that the toss alone decided everything, unfolding instead as a shifting battle shaped by changing circumstances throughout.
Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana made full use of the lingering dampness on the surface, exploiting the helpful conditions to put the South African top order under immediate pressure. With Tony de Zorzi unavailable, Ryan Rickleton was asked to open, while Aiden Markram slipped down to No. 5. Arshdeep struck straight away, finding Rickleton’s outside edge in the very first over, and Rana backed it up with a tight maiden.
India’s discipline was relentless early on, delivering three maiden overs inside the first eight. Apart from two streaky boundaries off Quinton de Kock, South Africa struggled badly for momentum, limping to 25 for 1 in the powerplay.
For South Africa to have any real chance of defending their total, early breakthroughs were essential. Although Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi did generate some movement with the new ball, their impact was blunted by a flurry of seven wides across the opening two overs. Rohit Sharma also ensured India never fell behind the required tempo, picking his moments to attack and relieve pressure.
While Yashasvi Jaiswal took time to settle, Rohit seized control — launching Ngidi over the ropes with a bold charge and lofting Keshav Maharaj over the infield despite the spin. Before long, his familiar authority through the pull shot was on display. With Jaiswal scoring at a steady but modest pace, Rohit raced to his 94th international fifty at almost a run a ball, allowing his young partner the breathing space to find his rhythm.
Standing in for the injured Shubman Gill placed Jaiswal in a far-from-ideal situation. In the opening two ODIs, India’s repeated losses at the toss forced him into an aggressive role as the side chased inflated targets. This time, however, he was finally allowed the luxury of patience, using the conditions and time at the crease to build a substantial innings before Gill’s eventual return.
Once he crossed 50 from 75 deliveries, the gears shifted effortlessly. The next phase was electric — he sped to three figures in just another 36 balls, becoming only the sixth Indian batter to register hundreds in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. He anchored the chase alongside two senior partners. After Rohit departed just 25 runs shy of what would have been his 34th ODI century, Virat Kohli unleashed a fresh dimension of power, smashing a personal series record of 12 sixes. Kohli closed out the match unbeaten on 65 from 45 balls as India surged home with more than 10 overs remaining.