India Rediscover Their Old Dominance, Crush South Africa to Seal ODI Series 2–1

 


It felt like the India of old — the team that once steamrolled opponents with fearless, attacking cricket. The team that played the World Cup final, the team that lifted the Champions Trophy. At Visakhapatnam, that ruthless version of India resurfaced. In the series decider, India demolished South Africa by nine wickets to pocket the ODI series. Hard to believe this was the same squad that had been deflated by a 2–0 loss in the Test series just days earlier. The only major change? The return of the two seasoned giants, instantly transforming the atmosphere in the dressing room.

Winning his first toss in 20 matches, captain KL Rahul chose to field — a decision that paid off. Arshdeep Singh struck in the opening over, removing opener Rickelton. South Africa counter-punched quickly, though, as Captain Bavuma and Quinton de Kock added 112 runs. Even after Bavuma fell, de Kock stitched another 64-run partnership with Brevis, taking the scoring rate close to six and bringing up a fine century. At that stage, 350-plus looked likely for the Proteas.

Then came Prasidh Krishna’s stunning double blow — dismissing de Kock and Markram in the same over, breaking South Africa’s backbone. Kuldeep Yadav took over from there. Spinning a web around the middle and lower order, he removed Brevis, Jansen, Bosch, and Ngidi, including the dangerous Brevis and Jansen in the same over. South Africa folded for 270, with Prasidh and Kuldeep taking four wickets each.

India’s reply began quietly, but the carnage started after the eighth over. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal tore into the South African attack with brutal hitting. Rohit became only the fourth Indian to cross 20,000 international runs and made a polished 75 off 73 balls. While Rohit missed out on a century, Jaiswal didn’t. He smashed his maiden ODI hundred in superb style after looking slightly jittery in initial stages .His 116 not out was a skilful innings which was  based on solid technical skills & game awareness . Virat Kohli, batting at No. 3, looked in sublime touch as well, powering his way to an unbeaten 65 off just 45 balls & played breathtaking shots after Jaiswal reached his  hundred . Many fans felt that with a few more runs left, another Kohli century was on the cards.

India cruised home with one wicket down and 61 balls to spare, sealing the series 2–1. After the Test disappointment, this victory will certainly lift the team’s spirits. The win also keeps coach Gautam Gambhir unbeaten in white-ball cricket at home. Considering India were without four to five first-choice players, the series triumph was all the more impressive.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Desserts: Ssiat Hotteok - How to prepare this Korean pancake

Image
Ssiat Hotteok  is a variation of Hotteok , a popular Korean stuffed pancake. While traditional Hotteok is filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and peanuts, Ssiat Hotteok is unique to Busan , where it includes a crunchy filling of various seeds (most commonly sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and more) in addition to the sweet syrup. Hot, chewy on the outside and oozing with a nutty, sugary crunch on the inside, Ssiat Hotteok is especially popular in colder months and a must-try for food lovers visiting Korea. Ingredients For the Dough: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup glutinous rice flour (for chewiness) 1 tbsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp instant dry yeast 3/4 cup warm water (more as needed) 2 tbsp milk (optional, for richer dough) 1 tbsp vegetable oil (plus more for frying) For the Filling: 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 tsp cinnamon powder 1/4 cup chopped peanuts or walnuts (optional) For the Seed Mix: 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (hulled) 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds ...
Read more

Indian astronomer created stunning video capturing earth's rotation from Ladakh

Image
Indian astronomer Dorje Angchuk has created a mesmerizing time-lapse video capturing Earth's rotation from the breathtaking landscapes of Ladakh. As the engineer-in-charge at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Angchuk aspired to produce a complete 24-hour time-lapse showcasing the seamless transition between day and night. Although we do not perceive the Earth's movement in our daily lives, our planet is in constant motion—both spinning on its axis and orbiting the Sun. In his video, Earth’s rotation becomes evident while the Milky Way appears motionless in the background. Reflecting on the project, Angchuk remarked, “The stars remain still, but Earth never stops spinning,” underscoring the technical challenges he faced while bringing his vision to life. His initial goal was to capture the Orion constellation; however, its high placement in the sky, given Ladakh’s latitude, presented difficulties. The region’s extreme cold also posed significant obstacles, rapidl...
Read more

Top Five Thrilling Matches in ICC Champions Trophy History

Image
  The ICC Champions Trophy, which began in 1998, has often been referred to as the "Mini ODI World Cup." Over the years, this tournament has produced some unforgettable cricketing moments. Here’s a look at five of the most thrilling encounters in Champions Trophy history. 1. India vs South Africa (Semi-final, 2002) While Virender Sehwag was known for his explosive batting, it was his off-spin that turned the game in this semi-final against South Africa. India, batting first, posted 261/9, thanks to Sehwag’s 59 and Yuvraj Singh’s 62. In response, South Africa looked set for victory as Herschelle Gibbs (116) and Jacques Kallis (97) built a strong foundation. However, Gibbs' retirement due to injury triggered a collapse. Sehwag’s crucial wickets, including those of Kallis, Mark Boucher, and Lance Klusener, swung the game in India’s favor. From a commanding position at 191/1, South Africa fell short at 251/6, handing India a 10-run win. The final against Sri Lanka was unfo...
Read more