Kohli’s 49th century coupled with Jadeja’s fifer helps India dismantle South Africa

In another imperious display of dominion, Team India blew away South Africa to cement their position at the top of the points table by a staggering difference in World Cup 2023. Eden Gardens turned into a boiling cauldron of a heaving swirling mass of fans who exploded into a frenzied eruption as there was more than one reason for them to emote their ecstasy.

Winning the toss, India opted to bat first, hoping to probe South Africa’s chasing game. The Indian captain, Rohit Sharma got off to a feisty start once again while Shubman Gill played the perfect two to tango. The duo posted 62 runs for the opening stand before Rohit holed out to his counterpart for a well-orchestrated 40.

Shubman Gill (23) did get off to a decent start but couldn’t add too many runs as Keshav Maharaj got the better of him with an absolute ripper that skittled past the edge of his bat to derail his off-stump. However, it was the following partnership between Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer that allowed India to take flight.

The two knitted together 134 runs for the third wicket with Iyer smashing 77 from 87 balls before Lungi Ngidi managed to produce a mishit with an off-cutter. KL Rahul didn’t really trouble the scorers much, departing for just eight. However, it was another breezy partnership between Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav that ensued for a decent 36 runs from just 23 balls, setting the platform for a grandstand finish.

It was eventually Ravindra Jadeja who provided a late charge to station India into an excellent position at the end of it all. However, during India’s through course of domination with the bat, another humdinger event unfurled ahead all of us as Virat Kohli brought up his 49th ODI century with a single against Kagiso Rabada in the 49th over of the innings as he eventually stayed unbeaten for 101 while Jadeja’s 29* from 15 balls propelled India to 326.

The visitors were in for an early shocker as Mohammed Siraj’s short ball outside the off-stump was chopped back onto his own timbre by Quinton de Kock (5) while Temba Bavumba’s uncomfortable stay in the center was cut short for a modest 11 as Ravindra Jadeja unravelled him with a peach that landed on the middle-stump and spun outside the bat’s face of the Proteas skipper to rattle his off-pole.

Aiden Markram (9) was next in the line of victims as Mohammed Shami struck again with KL Rahul pulling off a fine low catch. Rassie van der Dussen (13) was trapped in front of the stumps by Mohammed Shami to leave South Africa wobbling at 40/4. This is when Jaddu unleashed the storm that left South Africa clustered into an almost undoable knot.

David Miller (11) was beaten by Jadeja’s sharp turn while Keshav Maharaj (7) followed a similar fate. Marco Jansen offered a gift on a silver platter as he holed out to Ravindra Jadeja in one of the softest dismissals that could have been there, walking back for 14.

Jadeja removed Kagiso Rabada as he played it straight back to the bowler for an infinitesimal 6 from 26 balls while Kuldeep threw Lungi Ngidi’s stumps in utter disarray as Team India secured another mammoth win by 243 runs. Jadeja was the pick of the Indian bowling lot with a fifer while Virat Kohli was awarded the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 101.