India vs South Africa Live Score, Cricket World Cup 2023: Virat Kohli put up yet another monumental innings in trying conditions on his 35th birthday and in the process, he equalled Sachin Tendulkar’s extraordinary record of 49 ODI centuries. It was a subdued celebration from the former India captain, he …Read More played through most of the innings in the humidity of Kolkata. His century led the way in India putting up a mammoth total of 326/5 in 50 overs. India came out all guns blazing with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill belting Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada to all parts of the ground. The run rate slowed down as Keshav Maharaj kept a check on the batters throughout the middle overs after the openers fell but Kohli and Shreyas Iyer soldiered through that phase. The pair then shifted gears and scored their respective half-centuries. The stand finally ended on 134 off 158 when Iyer fell to Lungi Ngidi on 77 off 87. KL Rahul fell soon thereafter and Suryakumar Yadav then played an entertaining cameo, smashing 22 in 14 balls and Ravindra Jadeja then did the same. The all-rounder stayed unbeaten on 29 off 15 while Kohli at the other end got to his milestone. He finished unbeaten on 101 off 121.
South Africa were seen as India’s sternest test till now. Last year, they were the only side that India lost to in the T20 World Cup’s group stage, and despite being higher-ranked, have faced their series of unexpected results against the Proteas. Yesterday, Team India woke up to the news of Hardik Pandya being ruled out, but as long as their reinforcements – Mohammed Shami and Suryakumar Yadav are going berserk – they don’t have much to worry. What happens to the sixth-bowling option you ask? Well, Rahul Dravid coach joked that if needed, the wrong-footed in-swinging menace Virat Kohli is ready to fill in.
India however, needed Kohli the batter to anchor their innings against an attack brimming with confidence on a slow pitch in the heat and humidity of Kolkata. Before this game, Kohli had 442 runs to his name in this tournament in seven innings. He was third in the list of World Cup 2023’s leading run scorers, raising scores of 85, 55 not out, 103 not out and 88, and what better way for The King to make his 35th birthday extra special than by achieving a feat the world has been keeping an eye on – a record-equalling 49th century which makes him quicker to the landmark than the great man, Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli always had the numbers to do it. He has a stellar batting record at the Eden Gardens which stood at an average of 47 in 7 ODIs. But against South Africa, it’s even more intimidating – 61 in 30 ODIs including three fifties and one century before today’s innings.
There is a special connection that binds India with South Africa in this tournament. At the 2011 World Cup, South Africa was the only team India lost to. So for all those worried about the whole ‘Law of Averages’ thing, you may get an answer tonight. India still have the Netherlands to beat, which may not be a hassle despite the Dutch’s graph showing an upward curve. Having said that, today is the big occasion. India are bound to have one game that will mellow them down a bit. That’s how it works. And we better hope it happens in the coming two matches rather than the knockouts.
Here are some key pointers surrounding India vs South Africa World Cup 2023 match:
– Virat Kohli equalled Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI tons
– India won the toss and chosen to bat first
– Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got India off to a rocket of a start even by their high standards
– Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer then grinded out before accelerating and putting on a 134-run stand off 158 balls
– India’s 100 came up in just the 14th over
– South Africa are fielding two spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi
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