Raipur, Dec 3 (UNI) Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad struck commanding centuries to power India to a formidable 358 for 5 against South Africa in the second ODI at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium.
Kohli, in exceptional form, compiled a polished 102 off 93 balls, his second successive hundred in the series and 53rd overall in ODIs.
Gaikwad, playing with assurance after an edgy start, produced his maiden ODI hundred with a fluent 105 off 83 deliveries. Their 195-run partnership for the third wicket lifted India from 62 for 2 to a position of complete dominance after being put in to bat.
Kohli reached his fifty off Aiden Markram with complete control and later brought up his hundred with a single off Marco Jansen in the 38th over, receiving a standing ovation as he removed his helmet, looked skywards, and acknowledged the Raipur spectators.
His innings featured authoritative pulls, wristy flicks, and precise placement, including a fierce six off Jansen over long-on and a swivel-pull off Lungi Ngidi to get off the mark.
Gaikwad too grew in confidence after early discomfort against Jansen’s bounce. He reached his fifty off Markram and later accelerated with sweeps, pulls, and elegant lofts before bringing up his maiden ton off Corbin Bosch in the 33rd over.
He celebrated with a raised bat and a hug from Kohli. His knock included authoritative strokes such as a towering six off Keshav Maharaj and a series of well-timed boundaries through mid-on and square leg.
The partnership ended in the 36th over when Gaikwad miscued a pull off Jansen to deep backward square leg. Kohli fell shortly after, attempting to go big off Ngidi and picking out Markram at long-on.
Skipper KL Rahul then took charge of the finishing act with a blistering unbeaten 66 off just 43 balls. He was dropped on 45 by Breetzke, a costly miss for South Africa, and capitalised with powerful strokes thereafter.
Rahul reached his fifty with a slash over backward point off Jansen and later launched a spectacular slog-sweep six off Bosch in the final over. He also struck crisp fours through mid-off and played well-placed clips off his pads during the death overs.
Ravindra Jadeja supported him with an unbeaten 24 off 27 balls, finding boundaries off Bosch and Jansen. The pair added valuable runs after Washington Sundar’s dismissal for 1, run out attempting an ill-judged single.
Earlier, India lost both openers inside ten overs. Rohit Sharma struck three fours before edging Nandre Burger to Quinton de Kock following a successful review. Yashasvi Jaiswal battled through 38 balls for his 22 but fell pulling Jansen to square leg.
Despite a brisk start that featured a six from Jaiswal off Burger and Kohli’s early boundary bursts, South Africa struggled with consistency and discipline, conceding 20 wides.
Jansen was the most successful bowler with 2 for 63, while Ngidi and Burger picked up a wicket each.
India managed 66 in the powerplay and kept the scoring rate steady throughout, finishing with a run rate of 7.16.
South Africa now face a steep chase of 359 runs to level the series.
