Overview:
Apart from Virat, Rohit Sharma and stand-in captain KL Rahul were also among the runs.
Virat Kohli enjoyed his time in the middle in the first ODI between India and South Africa. Kohli scored 135 runs and took the team’s total to 349/8 in the allotted 50 overs. He faced 120 balls and hit 11 boundaries and 7 sixes.
It was his 52nd ton in the fifty-over format, and he went past Sachin Tendulkar in the list of most three-figure marks in one format of the game. Apart from Virat, Rohit Sharma and stand-in captain KL Rahul were also among the runs.
Rohit took 51 balls to post 57 runs, including 5 boundaries and 3 sixes. Rohit and Kohli added 136 runs for the second wicket. Virat then joined hands with Rahul to stitch a 76-run stand. KL Rahul, who started slowly, showed his range after settling down.
The wicket-keeper batter scored 60 runs off 56 deliveries, with the help of 3 sixes and 2 fours. Ravindra Jadeja, who was recalled to the side for the three-match series against the Proteas, played a cameo in the death overs. The all-rounder star smashed 2 boundaries and 1 six in his innings of 32 runs off 20 balls.
For South Africa, Nandre Burger, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, and Ottneil Baartman took wickets each.
Earlier, South Africa captain Aiden Markram won the toss and invited India to bat first, keeping the dew factor in mind. South Africa’s regular skipper, Temba Bavuma, was rested.