What was at stake in IND vs SA 1st ODI? Not a lot. It was a battle between two chokers in a format that even players have discarded. An ODI series in a T20 World Cup year may only make sense to the cricket boards as they are obliged by the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP). Yet, even in that meaningless ODI, India found meaning in eight-wicket victory. Two young Indian pacers Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan outshined Protean pace battery while Sai Sudharshan announced himself to the world with a half-century on debut even in a petty 117-run chase. The win in Johannesburg helped India take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and end a five-year win drought in the rainbow nation.
With no Rohit Sharma Sharma and Virat Kohli, India handed Sai Sudharshan his India debut. And he did announce himself in the international arena in the IND vs SA 1st ODI.
South Africa had no special firepower in the pace attack. Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen are not part of the ODI series. It was up to Andile Phehlukwayo, Nandre Burger and Wiaan Mulder to pull off a Mission Impossible and defend 116 runs. And they had no luck in the IND vs SA 1st ODI.
Despite losing Ruturaj Gaikwad (5) early, Sai Sudharshan (55 off 43) and Shreyas Iyer (52 off 45) completed the chase in 16.4 overs as India thrashed South Africa by 8 wickets.
Left-arm swinging menace
Opting to bat first on a tricky two-paced surface, South Africa were off to a poor start. Mukesh Kumar and Arshdeep Singh made Protean openers dance to their tunes of swing and bounce in absence of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. With While Mukesh Kumar found no luck with a wicket, it was Arshdeep Singh who rattled the Proteas in the IND vs SA 1st ODI.
It took Arshdeep Singh just five deliveries to get his first wicket. Taking full advantage of the swing on offer, Arshdeep bowled a little slower delivery to Reeza Hendricks. The opener dragged the ball to his stumps.
South Africa were waiting for more misery as Arshdeep struck again in the next delivery. This time, it was the in-form Rassie van der Dussen. Arshdeep bowled an in-swinger and as Dussen tried to flick it, he missed the length and it struck him on the pad. He did go for a review but failed.
Most wickets for Indian pacers vs SA
9 at Johannesburg, today*
8 at Mohali, 1993
8 at Centurion, 2013
After a little resistance from Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram, Arshdeep Singh struck again. This time, Arshdeep went short wide outside off stump. De Zorzi took the bait and as he tried to go for a pull, he could only top-edge it to KL Rahul. Down 43/3, Proteas had no time to breathe in the IND vs SA 1st ODI.
With Avesh Khan also joining the party bagging the prized wicket of dangerous Aiden Markram, Arshdeep Singh continued to rattle the hosts.
In the 11th over, he got the wicket of Heinrich Klaasen who can change the game at any stage. It was another brilliant delivery as his shortish delivery nipped back in to shatter Klaasen’s stumps. South Africa went down to 52/6.
Arshdeep Singh returned to complete a fifer in the 26th over as he trapped a charging Andile Phehlukwayo LBW. With that, he completed his maiden fifer in ODIs. He eventually, finished with 5/37.
Indians with fifers vs South Africa
- 5/6: Sunil Joshi, Nairobi, 1999
- 5/22: Yuzvendra Chahal, Centurion, 2018
- 5/33: Ravindra Jadeja, Kolkata, 2023
- 5/37: Arshdeep Singh, Jo’burg, 2023 (today)
Miyan magic
As Arshdeep continued a fiery spell from one end, Avesh Khan added fuel to the fire. Having faced a lot of criticism for his tendency to leak runs, Avesh was at his best on Sunday. After removing Aiden Markram with a brilliant delivery, Wiaan Mulder was his next victim as he trapped him leg-before.
The rampage continued as Avesh Khan reduced Proteas to 58/7, dismissing David Miller in the 13th over. He then went on to complete a four-fer with Keshav Maharaj throwing his wicket away in the short cover. Avesh Khan finished with 4/27 in 8 overs.
Then, there was a little resistance by Andile Phehlukwayo as South Africa crossed the 100-run mark. Phehlukwayo top-scored with 33 as South Africa folded for 116 in 27.3 overs in the IND vs SA 1st ODI.
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