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Virat Kohli’s 53rd ODI century and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s maiden ton went in vain as South Africa sealed a four-wicket win in Raipur, chasing 359 to level the series 1-1.

Kohli, Gaikwad hundreds in vain as South Africa chase 359 to level ODI series

Virat Kohli&rsquo;s 53rd ODI century and Ruturaj Gaikwad&rsquo;s maiden ton went in vain as South Africa sealed a four-wicket win in Raipur, chasing 359 to level the series 1-1.

Virat Kohli&rsquo;s 53rd ODI ton and Ruturaj Gaikwad&rsquo;s maiden century were eclipsed by a collective effort from South Africa in a steep run chase, giving the visitors a series levelling four wicket-win in the second ODI against India in Raipur on Wednesday.
Chasing 359, South Africa rode on a brilliant century from Aiden Markram (110), a brutal 34-ball 54 (1x4s, 5x6s) from Dewald Brevis and Matthew Breetzke's 68 to get over the line in another resilient effort with the bat.
The series-deciding third and final ODI will be played in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
India&rsquo;s job was far from done even after putting a daunting total on board as heavy dew in the second half not only made spinners&rsquo; job tougher, but poor returns from Prasidh Krishna (2/79) did not help their cause.
Prasidh, who had broken a second-wicket century partnership earlier by dismissing Temba Bavuma (46), got it right finally to pin Breetzke leg-before late in the game, and soon after, Arshdeep Singh (2/54) removed the dangerous Marco Jansen (2), but Corbin Bosch (29 not out off 15) and Keshav Maharaj (10 not out off 14) took the Proteas over the line with four balls to spare.
Markram was in his elements utilising a flat deck under lights to notch up his maiden century against India and providing South Africa a heavy contribution from the top to push on.
He took the initiative in the opening partnership and even though he lost Quinton de Kock (8) early with Arshdeep drawing first blood, Markram found a stable partner in Bavuma to put on 101 for the second wicket.
Markram had to remain the aggressor as Bavuma farmed the strike from the other end. Markram pierced gaps at will with brute force as well as some artistry.
He also hit through the line and over the bowlers&rsquo; head to clear the ropes while using the feet well against Indian spinners, with heavy dew making their job even more difficult as the innings progressed.
But the opener also had luck favouring him when a powerful hit off Kuldeep Yadav towards long on saw the ball going through Yashasvi Jaiswal&rsquo;s hands for a six.
Had the catch been taken, Markram&rsquo;s charge would&rsquo;ve ended on 53.
Markram eventually fell off a short off-cutter from Harshit Rana (1/70) but his dismissal had Brevis and Breetzke teaming up, who waltzed to 92 off the next 64 balls to put South Africa in complete control.
While Brevis fell after his quick fifty which featured some massive sixes , Breetzke made a composed 68 for a second consecutive half-century.
Incidentally, it was only the second occasion where India lost an ODI despite scoring in excess of 350, with the first instance being against Australia in March 2019 when they lost by a similar margin of four wickets despite making 358/9 at Mohali.
Earlier, Kohli&rsquo;s successive hundred, maiden century from Gaikwad (105) and KL Rahul&rsquo;s quickfire 66 not out propelled India to a formidable 358 for five.
Kohli (102 off 93 balls, 7x4s, 2x6s) and Gaikwad (105 off 83 balls, 12x4s, 2x6s) reset the record for highest third-wicket stand for India in ODIs against South Africa as their 195-run association built the platform for the hosts to launch themselves into a big score.
And Rahul&rsquo;s (66 not out off 43 balls, 6x4s, 2x6s) second fifty in a row ensured that, even as India continued to tinker with their batting line-up with the stand-in skipper coming in at No 5 ahead of Washington Sundar, who endured another failure.
Unlike at Ranchi where he did not look accustomed to batting in the middle order, Gaikwad emerged a perfect foil for Kohli as the two began racking up runs with ease.
With Ajinkya Rahane in tow, Kohli had put on 189 at Durban in February 2018 but perhaps on some counts, this partnership with Gaikwad was the one he may have enjoyed a little more as the Maharashtra batter matched his style of play.
The rotation of strike was deft, the singles were seamlessly converted into doubles and at times it was difficult for one to distinguish who had pierced the gap for those runs &mdash; not necessarily boundaries &mdash; as Gaikwad even appeared to be matching Kohli in terms of stroke-play.
If he was roughed up at the start, Gaikwad grew in confidence to post a fine half-century. Once past the milestone, he picked up pace.
Off the blocks with a perfect pull shot which sent the ball sailing over the ropes, it was yet another day in the office for Kohli who did not put a foot wrong on way to a record extending 53rd ODI ton.

Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill have returned to India’s T20I squad for the five-match series against South Africa, beginning December 9, after recovering from injuries.

Fit-again Gill, Pandya picked for T20I series against South Africa

Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill have returned to India&rsquo;s T20I squad for the five-match series against South Africa, beginning December 9, after recovering from injuries.

Flamboyant all-rounder Hardik Pandya and star batter Shubman Gill on Wednesday returned to the Indian T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against South Africa after recovering from their respective injuries.
Gill, who missed a major part of the Test series and the ODIs against South Africa due to a neck injury, has been picked for the T20 games as vice-captain after recovering from his condition. Gill's participation, however, is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence, the board said in a statement.
Pandya, who missed the Asia Cup 2025 final and the five-match series in Australia, also made a comeback in India's setup after proving his fitness on Tuesday during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Punjab in Hyderabad.
Gill, who is India's Test and ODI skipper, sustained the injury during the opening Test against the Proteas in Kolkata. He was subsequently ruled out of the second Test in Guwahati and the ODI series that followed.
The selection committee meeting to pick the T20 squad took place here on Wednesday. The five-match series begins December 9 in Cuttack. The other matches are scheduled in Chandigarh (December 11), Dharamsala (December 14), Lucknow (December 17) and Ahmedabad (December 19). Suryakumar Yadav is the regular T20I skipper for India.
India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC)*, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar.

India pacer Harshit Rana received an official reprimand and one demerit point from the ICC for an aggressive gesture after dismissing Dewald Brevis during the first ODI in Ranchi.

Harshit Rana Reprimanded by ICC for Aggressive Conduct in Ranchi ODI

Harshit Rana Penalized by ICC for ODI Conduct

India pacer Harshit Rana received an official reprimand and one demerit point from the ICC for an aggressive gesture after dismissing Dewald Brevis during the first ODI in Ranchi.

India pace bowler Harshit Rana was on Wednesday reprimanded and handed out one demerit point by the ICC for his aggressive behaviour after dismissing South African batter Dewald Brevis during the first ODI in Ranchi.&nbsp;
"Rana was found guilty of breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct," said ICC in a statement.&nbsp;
The incident occurred in the 22nd over of South Africa's innings on Sunday, when the India pacer, after dismissing Brevis, gestured in the direction of the dressing room, which "could have provoked an aggressive response from the batter".&nbsp;
Rana was found to have breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to 'using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during an International Match.&nbsp;
"In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Rana's disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period," added ICC statement Rana returned figures of 3 for 65 in the match, which India won by 17 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.&nbsp;
A Level 1 breaches carries a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee, and one or two demerit points.&nbsp;
In the event of a player reaching four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they get converted into suspension points.
Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player. The demerit points remain on a player's record for 24 months from their imposition.

India will rely on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to clinch the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur, after a 17-run win at Ranchi. Team combinations, unfamiliar pitch, and South Africa’s comeback potential remain key talking points.

India rely on Kohli-Rohit pair to seal ODI series victory against doughty South Africa

India will rely on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to clinch the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur, after a 17-run win at Ranchi. Team combinations, unfamiliar pitch, and South Africa&rsquo;s comeback potential remain key talking points.

The chatter around the volatile dressing room environment notwithstanding, India will rely on Virat Kohli's imperious form and Rohit Sharma's indomitable presence to seal a series victory over a doughty South Africa in the second ODI, in Raipur on Wednesday.
A record-extending 52nd ODI century by Kohli and a rapid 57 from Rohit paved the way for India's 17-run win in the series-opener at Ranchi, where the home bowlers endured a spirited fightback from the Proteas before managing to stop them.
With the 2027 ODI World Cup two years away, Kohli and Rohit are not only auditioning every match to prove their fitness and form but are also reportedly managing growing differences with head coach Gautam Gambhir. The issue has dominated the off-field talk and is expected to have the BCCI stepping in at some point.
Having set up two consecutive victories for India in last as many ODIs -- including a nine-wicket hammering of Australia at Sydney in October -- Kohli and Rohit have shown they will everything possible to be on that flight to the World Cup in South Africa.
Both the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and Gambhir have remained non-committal about their participation in the World Cup and that has probably been at the centre of the simmering tensions between the two sides.
However, India have a lot more to worry about despite the opening win. For starters, the combination does not seem perfectly aligned. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has built an impressive record in List A cricket, was pushed from opening to No 4. He did not look completely conditioned for the role, with stand-in captain KL Rahul staunchly defending his position at No 6.
Washington Sundar is not new to such experiments as the Tamil Nadu all-rounder, who batted at No 3 in Kolkata Test against the Proteas, has seen plenty of changes in his batting positions. But in the first ODI at No 5, he too was among the batters dismissed in a phase where India slowed down. And again for an all-rounder, Washington also had another light day in terms of bowling as he sent down only three overs for 18 runs.
To his credit, Harshit Rana did a lot of good to his reputation with two wickets upfront with the new ball but his knack of giving away runs later on will require the all-rounder to bring in more control, especially when only one ball is allowed to play with after the 34th over.
In their bid to restore balance between bat and ball, the ICC's new rule allows only one ball from the existing two to be continued with from 34-50 overs. Kuldeep Yadav snaffled key wickets for a match haul of 4/68 and even though he was a shade expensive, his variation proved to be the difference as South Africa fell short but then, not by a big margin.
South Africa will indeed take a lot of heart in their inspired comeback after being reduced to 11/3 at one stage. On a flat deck, Marco Jansen tore into the Indian bowlers once again for a minute-a-mile half-century (off 26 balls), scoring a strokeful 70 off 39 balls.
Matthew Breetzke notched up a fine 72 in his first ODI against India to lead a comeback for South Africa while their long tail, which includes the dangerous Corbin Bosch, threatened to take the game away from India.
South Africa played in the first ODI without their regular skipper Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj, who both were rested after their historic Test series win. But the Proteas are expected to bolster their squad with their return.
Like Guwahati where the hosts were not too accustomed with the pitch and conditions, the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in the Chhattisgarh capital is also relatively unfamiliar.
In the only ODI played here at this venue, India made light work of New Zealand in January 2023 when Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj exploited sharp seam movement off the pitch to bowl the Kiwis out for a mere 108. The hosts completed an eight-wicket win with nearly 30 overs to spare.
Even the only T20I played here in December 2023, against Australia, was also not a high-scoring affair which India won by 20 runs after putting on 174/9. 
Teams (from): India: KL Rahul (c&amp;wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann (wk), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Prenelan Subrayen, Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
Match starts at 1:30pm IST.

MS Dhoni hosted Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and other Indian players for a warm dinner gathering in Ranchi, creating a relaxed atmosphere ahead of the South Africa ODI series as senior stars returned to training and regrouped after a tough Test outing.

Dhoni hosts Kohli for special Ranchi dinner, then drives him back to hotel; video goes viral

MS Dhoni hosted Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and other Indian players for a warm dinner gathering in Ranchi, creating a relaxed atmosphere ahead of the South Africa ODI series as senior stars returned to training and regrouped after a tough Test outing.

Ranchi turned into a hub of excitement on Thursday night as former India captain MS Dhoni hosted Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant for a special dinner at his residence.&nbsp;
The intimate gathering became the most talked-about moment ahead of India&rsquo;s ODI series against South Africa, with visuals dominating social media within minutes.
Kohli, who flew in from London a day earlier, drove to Dhoni&rsquo;s home in the evening along with Pant.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Reunion of the year? 🥺<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvSA</a> 1st ODI | SUN, 30 NOV, 12:30 PM <a href="https://t.co/wu2qSTn30i">pic.twitter.com/wu2qSTn30i</a>
&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1994097630440509765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The two spent several hours at the veteran&rsquo;s residence, enjoying what insiders described as a warm, relaxed get-together&mdash;something that has now become a tradition whenever India plays in Ranchi.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Rishabh Pant at MS Dhoni house <a href="https://t.co/L9Qh33rvMA">pic.twitter.com/L9Qh33rvMA</a>
&mdash; Yash MSdian &trade;️ 🦁 (@itzyash07) <a href="https://twitter.com/itzyash07/status/1994079726294454586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Fans later captured Dhoni himself behind the wheel, dropping Kohli back to the team hotel, a gesture that fuelled nostalgia and reminded many of their long-standing bond.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BEST PICTURE ON THE INTERNET TODAY. &hearts;️ - Virat Kohli &amp; MS Dhoni riding together in a same car at Ranchi. <a href="https://t.co/ubW8mKxPuU">pic.twitter.com/ubW8mKxPuU</a>
&mdash; Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImTanujSingh/status/1994133943797600746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Videos showed Dhoni&rsquo;s house bustling with arrivals, not just from Kohli and Pant but also from Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who joined the informal gathering.&nbsp;
The dinner created a calm and comforting environment for players coming off a tough Test series loss, offering a quiet moment of camaraderie before shifting focus to the ODIs.
A Familiar Ranchi Ritual
Whenever India travels to Ranchi, players visiting Dhoni&rsquo;s home for dinner has become an unspoken ritual. The former skipper, though retired, continues to command immense affection within the team. Younger cricketers like Gaikwad and Tilak Varma often look forward to these evenings, seeing them as an opportunity to bond, share experiences, and ease into the pressure of an upcoming series.
Thursday's dinner was no different. With the ODI squad gathering in the city, Dhoni&rsquo;s hospitality set the tone for the team&rsquo;s reset phase. For Pant, coming off a difficult Test series, and Kohli, returning to ODIs after mixed form against Australia, the evening provided a much-needed breather.
Players Begin Training; Leaders Return
Earlier in the day, Kohli and Rohit Sharma were seen practising in the nets along with Tilak Varma and Gaikwad. This South Africa series marks the return of both senior batters to ODI cricket. India will also be without Shubman Gill, ruled out due to injury, leaving Pant and Gaikwad with greater responsibilities in the middle and top order respectively.
Pant Seeks Fresh Start; Kohli Eyes Momentum
Pant, who apologised to fans during the Test series saying the team &ldquo;didn&rsquo;t play good enough cricket,&rdquo; now gets a fresh chance at redemption in the ODI format &mdash; his first since August 2024. Kohli, meanwhile, will look to build on his match-winning fifty in the last ODI against Australia after back-to-back ducks earlier in the series.
India&rsquo;s ODI Squad
Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (C) (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel

India slumped to 27/2 on day four of the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati, chasing a massive target of 549. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul fell early, leaving Sai Sudharsan and Kuldeep Yadav at the crease.

India Stumbles in Chase of 549, South Africa Dominates Day Four

India vs South Africa Test: India Stumbles on Day Four

India slumped to 27/2 on day four of the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati, chasing a massive target of 549. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul fell early, leaving Sai Sudharsan and Kuldeep Yadav at the crease.

India stared down the barrel as a ruthless South Africa slowly tortured the home side by posting an improbable victory target of 549 that has all but ensured the visitors' first series triumph in Guwahati in 25 years at the end of the fourth day of the second Test.
After South Africa declared their second innings at 260 for 5, India were reeling at 27 for 2 at stumps on Tuesday, having lost openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) to Marco Jansen and KL Rahul (6) to Simon Harmer respectively.
Sai Sudharsan (2 batting) and night-watchman Kuldeep Yadav (4 batting) were at the crease, but it will take a herculean effort from the remaining batters to save the game on the final day and avoid the ignominy of a 0-2 whitewash.
The only saving grace for them could be the fact that light fades quickly in this part of the world after 3:45 pm, and not more than 80 overs have been possible on any of the past four days. Head coach Gautam Gambhir will certainly prefer a 0-1 series defeat over a 0-2 result, which would be the second series debacle at home against a SENA nation in the past 12 months.
On the fourth day, the reigning World Test Champions had two targets. First was to set a target that would be virtually out of reach. Secondly, the more time Proteas spent batting on the fourth day, the stronger became the chances of the red soil track crumbling on the fifth day.
Tristan Stubbs (94 off 180 balls), who missed out on a half-century in the first innings by a solitary run, this time fell short of a Test ton by only six runs. Once Stubbs became Ravindra Jadeja's (4/62 in 28.3 overs) fourth victim, skipper Temba Bavuma declared the second innings, having knocked the stuffing out of the Indian team by making them bowl for 78.3 overs.
Stubbs enjoyed a 101-run stand for the fourth wicket with Tony de Zorzi (49) and another 82 for the fifth wicket with Wiaan Mulder (35 not out). This followed a 50-plus opening stand between Ryan Rickleton (28) and Aiden Markram (35). Bavuma, an experienced captain, looked tactically superior compared to India's stand-in skipper Pant, who appeared bereft of ideas in his debut leadership role, albeit in a one-off game.
Bavuma could have called his men in after their lead swelled to 450, but he perhaps wanted to ensure that the SG Test remained relatively new when his men came out to bowl in the morning. They would try to exploit any help available from the surface before it flattens out.
The pitch still looks solid, even though the degree of turn has gradually increased from less than three on the first day to 4.6 on the fourth day. That was evident when Jadeja, who hardly gets any purchase in helpful batting conditions, tossed one up to Aiden Markram, luring him into a forward defensive stroke. The ball pitched on the middle stump, turned sharply away from Markram's outside edge, and clipped the off-stump.
A few overs later, Bavuma fell for a leg-side trap set by Washington Sundar as a delivery bounced and turned into his rib cage, with the tickle taken down at leg-slip by Nitish Reddy. However, after that dismissal, both Washington (1/67 in 22 overs) and Jadeja stopped getting appreciable turn, and Stubbs and De Zorzi farmed the strike with ease.
Pant's tactical calls and field placements also left a lot to be desired. He constantly switched between an "in-out" field (half close in and a few deep) to five fielders in the deep to save boundaries. At one point, it felt that the Indian team was merely playing the waiting game, looking for Bavuma to declare the innings.
The Indian skipper also couldn&rsquo;t give Kuldeep (0/48 in 12 overs) more opportunities to bowl, as he was being hit for runs. Pant needed a bit of control, which Jadeja and Washington collectively provided for 50-plus overs. But despite their discipline, the duo never looked as menacing as Harmer, who has troubled the Indian batters in both innings. 
Brief Scores: South Africa: 489 &amp; 260 for 5 declared in 78.3 overs (Ryan Rickelton 35, Aiden Markram 29, Tristan Stubbs 94, Tony de Zorzi 49; Ravindra Jadeja 4/62). India: 201 &amp; 27 for 2 in 15.5 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 13, KL Rahul 6).

Rishabh Pant captains India in Shubman Gill’s absence as the team faces South Africa on a spin-friendly Guwahati track, entering the Test as underdogs.

2nd Test: 'Pitched battle' on cards as India aim to draw level

Rishabh Pant captains India in Shubman Gill&rsquo;s absence as the team faces South Africa on a spin-friendly Guwahati track, entering the Test as underdogs.

Rishabh Pant will walk into an immensely challenging leadership exam in the absence of Shubman Gill as India face the uphill task of restoring parity against a well-prepared South Africa on a surface that is expected to offer appreciable turn in the second and final Test starting in Guwahati on Saturday.
An even tougher test looms for head coach Gautam Gambhir, whose often perplexing calls have left the dressing room and think-tank grappling for clarity. The aura of invincibility while playing at home that accompanied the Indian teams of last three decades has vanished when it comes to the current one, which is looking vulnerable.
For the first time in many years, India are going into a home Test match as underdogs and not favourites. Ask any player worth his salt and he would tell that it is not a happy place to be. If the New Zealand spin duo of Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner tore the perception of invincibility to shreds in 2024, Simon Harmer and his other colleagues are making a young Indian side look even more vulnerable.
The lack of a proper technique to handle spinners is apparent and jarring. Add to it, a massive shift in mindset on tracks that implode, has made matters worse. While Gambhir, with support of men who matter in the BCCI, is perfectly safe when it comes to his job, a 0-5 home record against two SENA countries will damage his coaching legacy forever, and no amount of ICC Trophies would be enough to paper over that aspect.
And in these trying circumstances, Pant will take up leadership in the absence of Gill. He would know quite well that his batting on a red soil Barsapara track will be as important as his decision-making.
That Gill was never in contention to play the second Test after suffering from neck spasms was always clear, but the Indian team management and the BCCI, true to their nature of avoiding clarity till the last minute, denied the inevitable till it became undeniable. According to reliable sources, the 26-year-old has left the city to rest and recuperate.
Sai Sudharsan looks to be the most likely candidate to take Gill's place, although whether he bats at No.3 or Washington Sundar is allowed to continue remains to be seen.
When it comes to captaincy experience, Pant led an Indian T20 team against the same opponents a few years back when Rohit Sharma was rested. But there isn't enough data on his red-ball decision-making skills. Pant did lead a Delhi side to a Ranji Trophy final back in 2017, losing to eventual champions Vidarbha.
However, what would keep experts more interested is the calls he took on the second evening and third morning of the opening Test in Kolkata. By stumps on the second evening, India had reduced South Africa to 93 for 7 with help of spinners. What left a lot to be desired was Pant's eternal wait before handing the ball to Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah on the third morning. By that time, Temba Bavuma had added those additional 60 runs which became decisive.
While Pant, the lively chatterbox behind the stumps, is an incentive for the bowlers, it is Pant the skipper who will have to convince his coach to make some prudent calls when it comes to team selection.
With too many left-handers in the line-up &mdash; as many as seven &mdash; off-spinner Simon Harmer might just have a field day if the covering of grass that was seen on the track on Thursday is shaved off by BCCI curators Taposh Chatterjee and Ashish Bhowmick.
In any case, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia wouldn't want this venue's first ever Test to be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Hence, one of the spinners &mdash; Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav &mdash; could make way for all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, which can help India exploit any underlying moisture if a third seamer comes into play.
In case his bowling isn't required, being a right-hander with a cavalier approach to batting might just help on these kinds of surfaces. But in the end, it all boils down to faith in players instead of being a slave of the surface.
When it comes to trust, the head coach, for once, would like to walk the talk before another lost home series which will have way more implications than he can ever think of.
Teams (from): India: Rishabh Pant (captain and wk), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, B Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Devdutt Padikkal, Akash Deep.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (C), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.
Match Starts at 9 am.

Shubman Gill has been released from India’s Test squad against South Africa due to a neck spasm sustained in the first Test. The BCCI confirmed he will focus on recovery, with his participation in the upcoming ODI series yet to be determined.

India captain Shubman Gill released from Test squad due to injury

Shubman Gill has been released from India&rsquo;s Test squad against South Africa due to a neck spasm sustained in the first Test. The BCCI confirmed he will focus on recovery, with his participation in the upcoming ODI series yet to be determined.

India captain Shubman Gill was on Friday released from the Test squad ahead of the second match against South Africa starting Saturday.
Gill suffered a neck spasm while batting in the first innings of the opening Test in Kolkata and was hospitalised after sustaining a whiplash.
"Gill has been released from the squad. He will be working on his recovery," a senior BCCI source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
Gill travelled with the team to Guwahati but the pain in his nape didn't subside completely. It remains to be seen if he can play the upcoming ODI series.
"We don't want recurrence of spasm during the game," batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had said on Thursday.
South Africa lead the two-match series 1-0 after their memorable win at Eden Gardens.

India captain Shubman Gill remains doubtful for the second Test against South Africa as he awaits a crucial fitness test following a neck spasm, with the team prepared for alternatives if he is ruled out.

Shubman Gill Faces Fitness Test Ahead of Second Test vs South Africa

Shubman Gill Fitness Doubt Before 2nd Test

India captain Shubman Gill remains doubtful for the second Test against South Africa as he awaits a crucial fitness test following a neck spasm, with the team prepared for alternatives if he is ruled out.

India captain Shubman Gill, who has not trained due to a neck spasm sustained during the first Test against South Africa, will undergo a fitness test on Friday in a last-ditch attempt to be available for the second game, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has indicated.
Gill developed the spasm on the second day of the opening Test in Kolkata that India lost by 30 runs and hasn't returned to the nets ever since. While his chances remain slim, the BCCI sports science team is waiting as long as possible before taking a final call. The second and final Test begins on Saturday.
"See, he is definitely recovering really well, because I also met him yesterday," Kotak said ahead of a practice session that Gill skipped. "Now, the decision will be taken tomorrow evening, because the physios and doctors have to decide whether, even if he is fully recovered, there's a chance of the spasm recurring during the match. That is very important."
"If there is a doubt, then I am sure he will rest for one more game because it won't help the team otherwise. A player like Shubman, and he's the captain so any team would miss him," Kotak added.
While acknowledging the impact of Gill's absence, Kotak expressed confidence in the bench strength. "But if he is missing out because of injury, we have batters and plenty of good players. They are professionals; they should come and perform for the team," Kotak said. "We all wish he plays, but if he doesn't, we will definitely have a good replacement and maybe the guy coming in will score a hundred."
In the first Test in Kolkata, Dhruv Jurel batted at No. 4 in the second innings, and Kotak did not rule out that option again, though he stressed that combinations would only be discussed after Gill's fitness test. "Jurel batted at No. 4, so he is one option. But until we know about Shubman, there is no point discussing who will play," he said. "Once we know, and once we see the wicket tomorrow, we will think about the best combination."
Kotak summed up the significance of Gill's absence in the first Test with pointed clarity. "In the last game, nobody discussed much about what our chances would have been had Shubman batted in both innings," he said. "The second innings may not have even mattered. If in the first innings he had batted and we had one partnership, with a 100-run lead, we would have been fine. That's not an excuse, but a reality that he couldn't bat in two innings."
It is learnt that Gill probably needs 10 days to fully recover and then complete his rehabilitation to be match-ready. But if he plays the Test match, the logical step for the selectors would be to rest him from the three-match ODI series against the Proteas starting November 30 in Ranchi.

India captain Shubman Gill will travel to Guwahati for the second Test against South Africa despite a neck injury. BCCI to decide on his participation after medical assessment.

Shubman Gill will travel to Guwahati for 2nd Test: BCCI

India captain Shubman Gill will travel to Guwahati for the second Test against South Africa despite a neck injury. BCCI to decide on his participation after medical assessment.

India skipper Shubman Gill will travel to Guwahati for the second Test against South Africa despite his participation being in doubt due to a neck injury, the BCCI announced on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old Gill suffered the injury on the second day of the first Test that India lost by 30 runs in Kolkata. He could not bat after retiring hurt in the first innings and was even hospitalised.
The second Test starts on November 22.
"Shubman has been responding well to the medical treatment provided and will travel to Guwahati with the team on 19th November, 2025," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a statement.
"He will continue to be monitored by the BCCI medical team and a decision on his participation in the 2nd Test will be taken accordingly," he added, continuing the suspense over Gill's availability.
With Gill's participation highly unlikely, all-rounder Nitish Reddy has been taken out of the ongoing India A series against South Africa A in Rajkot.
The Andhra batting all-rounder reached Kolkata on Monday evening but did not take part in Tuesday's net session.
With a Test century to his name and being a right-hander, Reddy could be in contention for a place in the playing eleven at Guwahati if Gill is ruled out.

Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul and support from Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel helped India bowl out South Africa for 159 in the opening Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Jasprit Bumrah's Five-Wicket Haul Dominates South Africa in Kolkata Test

Bumrah's 5-Wicket Highlight in Kolkata Test

Jasprit Bumrah&rsquo;s five-wicket haul and support from Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel helped India bowl out South Africa for 159 in the opening Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah took a five-wicket haul as India bowled out South Africa for 159 on day one of the opening Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday.&nbsp;
Bumrah's (5/27) victims included openers Aiden Makram and Ryan Rickleton, Ton de Zorzi, Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj.&nbsp;
Pacer Mohammed Siraj (2/47), spinners Kuldeep Yadav (2/36) and Axar Patel (1/21)shared five wickets among themseleves.&nbsp;
It was a disappointing batting performance from the visitors after winning the toss. Wiaan Mulder and de Zorzi were the joint top scorers.&nbsp;
Brief Scores: South Africa 1st innings 159 all out in 55 overs (Wiaan Mulder 24 , Toni de Zorzi 24; Jasprit Bumrah 5/27).&nbsp;

Mohammed Siraj’s brilliant double strike and clinical spells from Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav reduced South Africa to 154/8 at tea on day one of the opening Test at Eden Gardens.

Siraj, Bumrah rip through South African line up as India tighten grip; visitors 154/8 at tea

Mohammed Siraj&rsquo;s brilliant double strike and clinical spells from Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav reduced South Africa to 154/8 at tea on day one of the opening Test at Eden Gardens.

Mohammed Siraj's double strike added to South Africa's woes as India tightened their grip on the opening Test, reducing the visitors to 154 for eight at tea on day one at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday.
Having conceded 34 runs in his first six overs, Siraj toiled relentlessly and finally cracked open the lower middle order with a brilliant double-wicket burst in his 10th over, removing Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen in the space of four balls.
Verreynne (16), who was dropped twice in the 34th over, was undone when the ball struck his pad and then bat as he tried to defend towards mid-off. South Africa reviewed for the third time in the innings and burned their final referral.
Jansen (0) received a short ball first up, but Siraj then produced a length delivery that began reversing before pitching around off, darted back sharply and went through his gate.
At the stroke of tea, Axar Patel opened his account by trapping Corbin Bosch (3) leg before wicket as India suddenly looked poised to bat on the opening day itself despite Shubman Gill losing yet another toss.
The session had begun with Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah continuing from where they had left off. The left-arm spinner continuing to ask tough questions with drift, dip and length variations, keeping the batters under constant scrutiny.
After the early losses of Temba Bavuma and the openers, Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi tried to steady the innings with circumspect batting.
Mulder applied himself for more than 50 balls, looked compact against India&rsquo;s four-pronged spin attack, but lost focus 15 minutes into the second session Attempting to break free with a reverse sweep against Kuldeep, he missed it completely and was trapped lbw.
India struck again in the third over after lunch as Bumrah, following a probing first spell of 7-4-9-2, returned to remove the in-form de Zorzi (24).
Earlier, in the morning session, Bumrah showcased his mastery with two unplayable deliveries to dismiss both thte openers, Aiden Markram (31) and Ryan Rickelton (23), after South Africa raced to 57 for no loss in 10 overs.
Kuldeep added the wicket of Bavuma (3) as India seized control before lunch and tightened the noose further by tea.

Jasprit Bumrah took two early wickets and Kuldeep Yadav removed Temba Bavuma as South Africa reached 105 for 3 at lunch on Day 1 of the first Test.

Jasprit Bumrah Impresses With Key Wickets Against South Africa

Bumrah's Early Strikes Shake South Africa

Jasprit Bumrah took two early wickets and Kuldeep Yadav removed Temba Bavuma as South Africa reached 105 for 3 at lunch on Day 1 of the first Test.

Jasprit Bumrah showcased his mastery with two unplayable deliveries to dismiss both openers while Kuldeep Yadav added the prized wicket of skipper Temba Bavuma as India dominated the first session to reduce South Africa to 105 for 3 in 27 overs at lunch on day one of the opening Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday.
Opting to bat with an extra all-rounder in Wiaan Mulder, South Africa bossed the first 50 minutes, racing to 57 for no loss in 10 overs, before Bumrah (2/9 in 7 overs) turned the morning on its head with two wickets in five balls across successive overs.
Aiden Markram, after 23 dot balls, opened up with a straight drive and a flowing cover drive, later twice punishing Axar Patel and unfurling a deft late cut past backward point. He also launched Axar for a wristy six over mid-wicket as the run-rate surged above five an over. At the other end, Ryan Rickelton&rsquo;s hit-and-miss 22 off 23 (4x4) added to India's frustration.
Just as India appeared to be leaking runs after Shubman Gill lost yet another toss, Bumrah produced a peach from around the wicket. A 140 kmph length ball straightened late, beating a tentative Rickelton to uproot his off stump, sending the Eden Gardens crowd of more than 30,000 roaring.
His next over was even better. A short-of-length delivery reared sharply on a surface already showing the odd ball stay low, forcing Markram (31 off 48; 5x4, 1x6) to glove to Dhruv Jurel. The contrast in bounce underscored the pitch's fickle nature.
Bumrah also troubled Bavuma with a thigh-pad strike in the same over before India introduced Kuldeep Yadav. The left-arm wrist-spinner struck in his second over, Bavuma falling to a smart leg-slip trap, Jurel snapping a sharp inside-edge chance.
India used all four spinners before lunch, with Washington Sundar bowling the final over as the pitch continued to show variable behaviour, with odd balls staying low and leaping. At the break, Mulder (22 off 43) and in-form Tony de Zorzi (15 off 38) &mdash; both playing their first Tests in India &mdash; were at the crease.
Earlier, India sprang a bold selection call under Gautam Gambhir&rsquo;s think-tank, fielding four spinners for the first time since the 2012 Nagpur Test vs England, recalling Patel in place of designated No. 3 Sai Sudharsan, who was seen training separately with physio Adrian Le Roux in the morning.
South Africa picked just two spinners, leaving out Senuran Muthusamy &mdash; Player of the Series in their 1-1 draw in Pakistan &mdash; while Kagiso Rabada&rsquo;s rib injury meant Marco Jansen and Mumbai Indians pacer Corbin Bosch formed their two-man pace attack. Brief Scores: South Africa 1st innings: 105 for 3 in 27 overs (Aiden Markram 31; Jasprit Bumrah 2/9) against India.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and chose to bat in the first Test against India in Kolkata. India brought back Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel, while SA missed Kagiso Rabada due to injury.

1st Test: South Africa opt to bat, India pick four spinners including Axar

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and chose to bat in the first Test against India in Kolkata. India brought back Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel, while SA missed Kagiso Rabada due to injury.

South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bat against India in the opening Test at the Edens Gardens in Kolkata on Friday.
A fit-again Rishabh Pant, who had suffered an injury in England in July, replaced all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, while Axar Patel was back in side in place of Sai Sudharsan in the playing XI as India opted to go with four spinners.
For SA, premier pacer Kagiso Rabada missed out due to a rib injury with Corbin Bosch replacing him.
Teams:&nbsp;
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma(c), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne(w), Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj&nbsp;
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.&nbsp;

India begins a two-match Test series against South Africa in Kolkata, confronting a potent spin attack. Focus will be on batting application and patience to overcome last year’s home collapse against New Zealand.

India Prepares for Challenging Test Series Against South Africa

India vs South Africa: Test Series Challenge

India begins a two-match Test series against South Africa in Kolkata, confronting a potent spin attack. Focus will be on batting application and patience to overcome last year&rsquo;s home collapse against New Zealand.

India's awe-inspiring batting depth will face a stern test against South Africa's quality spin attack when the reasonably well-matched sides clash in an eagerly-anticipated two-match Test series beginning in Kolkata on Friday.
India would be haunted by the ghosts of last year's home debacle against New Zealand when their home record was shattered by Kiwi spinners Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips, who shared 36 wickets across three Tests, fashioning an unprecedented 0-3 whitewash.
Given South Africa's heavy reliance on tweakers right now, that collapse against sustained spin pressure will linger in the collective memory of the home side. The reigning World Test champions are known for fiery pacers historically but are currently armed with one of the most potent spin groups in world cricket.
The Proteas arrive on the back of a morale-boosting 1-1 draw in Pakistan, achieved without inspirational captain Temba Bavuma. South Africa's spin trio of Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy accounted for 35 of the 39 wickets to fall across the series, outperforming Pakistan&rsquo;s own slow-bowling contingent of Noman Ali, Sajid Khan and Salman Agha, who managed 21 wickets collectively.
It was little wonder then that India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate called the rival bowling line-up a "subcontinent-style attack". "They have got four spinners at their disposal, and most likely they will play three. It's a little bit like playing against a subcontinent team," he said. "We've addressed that early on. Hopefully, we've learned from the New Zealand series."
Simon Harmer, now 36 and holder of 1,000 first-class wickets, is no stranger to Indian conditions. As a 26-year-old on the 2015 tour under Hashim Amla, he featured in two Tests &mdash; in Mohali and Nagpur &mdash; and claimed prized scalps such as Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha, all known for their spin-playing prowess.
A decade later, Harmer remains as wily. He arrives in Kolkata after an eight-wicket match haul in Rawalpindi last month that spun South Africa to a series-levelling win over Pakistan. His control, drift, and subtle changes of pace make him an ideal foil for the left-arm spin of Maharaj, who is arguably one of the most accurate and attacking spinners in the modern game.
The Eden Gardens pitch has therefore become the most-watched element of this contest. While India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and captain Shubman Gill have made multiple pitch inspections, Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly has assured that it "won't be a rank-turner".
That will please Jasprit Bumrah, who could be India's trump card on a surface that historically gives early movement and late reverse swing. India would look to go with two pacers and it appears that Akash Deep, the local 'boy', will have the edge with his knowledge of the conditions.
Over the last 15 years, pacers have taken 61 per cent (97 of 159 wickets) in Tests here as seam and swing play a major role, especially in the early and closing stages.
While a young Indian side under Shubman Gill's debut captaincy drew 2-2 in England this summer, showing resilience and adaptability in seaming conditions, it is the New Zealand debacle at home that continues to rankle. The subsequent 2-0 win against a weak West Indies side in this WTC cycle did little to test India's revival.
For India, the focus will be on application and patience against spin. With Rishabh Pant fit again and an in-form Dhruv Jurel set to play as a specialist batter, the middle order looks more stable. Washington Sundar, who topped India's spin charts in that New Zealand series with 16 wickets, provides drift and bounce and lends depth with the bat.
Ten Doeschate underlined the mental readiness required after a gruelling multi-format schedule. "You've got to switch on mentally and be ready for 16&ndash;17 days of really tough work. The body will take care of itself &mdash; the mind has to be ready."
Given it's only a two-match series, the margin for error is slim. Falling behind early could prove fatal especially with unfamiliar conditions set to play their part in the final Test in Guwahati, which will make its debut as a Test venue.
For India, batting big and putting the opposition under scoreboard pressure will be the key to exorcising the ghosts of last year's collapse.
Teams: India: Shubman Gill (Capt), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (WK and VC), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Devdutt Padikkal.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (Capt), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Dewald Brevis, Zubayr Hamza, Tony de Zorzi, Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer.
Match starts: 9.30am.

The BCCI will give a cash reward of ₹51 crore to the Indian women's cricket team, including players, support staff, and selectors, for winning their first-ever ODI World Cup.

BCCI Announces Rs 51 Crore Reward for Indian Women's Cricket Team

BCCI Gifts Rs 51 Crore for Women's Cricket Glory

The BCCI will give a cash reward of ₹51 crore to the Indian women's cricket team, including players, support staff, and selectors, for winning their first-ever ODI World Cup.

The BCCI will reward the Indian women's cricket team with Rs 51 crore for winning the ODI World Cup, secretary Devajit Saikia announced on Monday.
The Indian women's team under Harmanpreet Kaur's leadership beat South Africa by 52 runs in the final on Sunday to win its first ever global trophy.
"As a token of appreciation, the BCCI will reward the Indian women's cricket team with a cash award of Rs 51 crore for winning the World Cup. It includes all the players, support staff and the national selection committee," Saikia told PTI on Monday.

Harmanpreet Kaur and her spirited team created history as India lifted their first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup with a 52-run win over South Africa.

Harmanpreet Kaur Leads India to Historic Women's Cricket World Cup Victory

India Wins First Women's Cricket World Cup

Harmanpreet Kaur and her spirited team created history as India lifted their first-ever ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup with a 52-run win over South Africa.

At the stroke of midnight, Harmanpreet Kaur created her own legacy, broke a "barrier" with a bunch of sprightly women filled with guts and announced that this is not the end but just the beginning.
The Indian women's cricket team won its first-ever World Cup with a 52-run victory over South Africa in the summit clash here on Sunday to script a golden chapter in the country's pantheon of sporting achievements.
Having taken the World Cup-winning epochal catch Sunday night, the mercurial Indian women's team skipper displayed an entire gamut of emotions never seen before. She ran like crazy as if there was no tomorrow after taking the catch. Stood a bit detached as the youngsters celebrated, trying to soak in the moment. Touched "Guruji" Amol Muzumdar's feet and engaged in an emotional hug where the tears burst out of the welled up eyes.
Called the two OGs of Indian women's cricket -- Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami -- to hold the Cup. Both the legends broke down. It was a moment to frame when the skipper and her deputy Smriti Mandhana engaged in a bear hug with Jhulan, telling her "Didi, Yeh Aapke liye thaa (Sister, this is for you)".
And when Harmanpreet spoke at the post-match presentation ceremony, she didn't lose the macro picture of what it means to be the first women's team to achieve the unthinkable.
"This is the start. We wanted to break this barrier. And our next plan is to make this a habit. We were waiting for it, now this moment has come. So many big occasions are coming, and we want to keep improving. This is not the end, just the beginning," the skipper said.
Captaincy is a lot about planning but just like it was Kapil Dev on June 25, 1983, whose gut feel told him to give one more over to Madan Lal against a rampaging Vivian Richards. Harmanpreet felt that on Sunday, and her trump card was Shafali Verma, who possibly couldn't have done any wrong.
"When Laura and Sune were batting, they were looking really good. I just saw Shafali standing there, and the way she was batting, I knew it was our day.
"I thought I have to go with my gut feeling. My heart was saying, I had to give her at least one over. And that was the turning point for us. In the end, they panicked a little and that is where we cashed (in). At the right time, Deepti came in and took those wickets."
Shafali had bowled 14 overs in her entire international ODI career and on the day got two crucial wickets.
"When she came to the team, we spoke to her that we might need 2-3 overs, and she said if you give me bowling, I will bowl ten overs. Credit goes to her, she was so positive and she was there for the team. Salute her."
It was Amol, who would always be on his skipper's ears about doing something big and something special.
"Amol sir was with the team and he was always telling us to come up with something special, and to keep preparing for the big occasion. We should give credit to the support staff and the BCCI. We did not make too many changes (to our squad), and they really invested in us, and because of everyone, we are standing here."
For Shafali, who in the past one year saw her international career come to a standstill, must have felt that it had to be God's decree.
"I said at the start, that God has sent me here to do something nice, and that reflected today. Very happy that we won and I cannot express it in words."
Coming for two knock-out games isn't easy but Shafali had belief in her abilities.
"It was difficult but I had confidence in myself - that if I can stay calm, I could achieve everything. My parents, my friends, my brother, everyone supported me and helped me understand how to play. It was very important for my team and myself, and I just wanted to make my team win. My mind was clear and I worked on my plans. So happy that I could execute and Smriti di and Harman di, everyone was supporting me. They (seniors) asked me just to play my own game, and when you get that clarity, that is all you need. It is a very memorable moment."
With Sachin Tendulkar in the stands, it couldn't have been more special for Shafali to do it in front of her idol.
"When I saw Sachin sir, it gave me an incredible boost. I keep talking to him, he keeps giving me confidence. He is the master of cricket, and we keep getting inspired just looking at him."

India’s women’s cricket team won their first-ever World Cup, defeating South Africa by 52 runs, with standout performances from Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, and Shree Charani.

Indian women create history, beat South Africa to win the World Cup 2025

India&rsquo;s women&rsquo;s cricket team won their first-ever World Cup, defeating South Africa by 52 runs, with standout performances from Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, and Shree Charani.

From heartbreaks to history, Indian women&rsquo;s cricket completed its long, unfinished journey to glory as Harmanpreet Kaur&rsquo;s fearless team outlasted South Africa by 52 runs in a gripping final to lift their first-ever ICC Women's World Cup crown in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.&nbsp;
Indian women's cricket finally touched its Everest as years of toil and near-misses culminated in an evening of redemption and history for the hosts. India's breakthrough in the 13th edition of the global showpiece made them only the fourth team to win the trophy, joining Australia (7), England (4) and New Zealand (1) in the pantheon of champions.&nbsp;
With the victory, Harmanpreet&rsquo;s team finally buried the ghosts of past heartbreaks &mdash; the 2005 and 2017 finals &mdash; and delivered India&rsquo;s much-awaited World title, a watershed moment for the game in the country. After posting 298 for 7 &mdash; the second-highest total in tournament history &mdash; India held their nerve to bundle out South Africa for 246 in 45.3 overs.&nbsp;
The Proteas&rsquo; charge revolved around captain Laura Wolvaardt&rsquo;s magnificent 98-ball 101, but the brilliance of Deepti Sharma (55 and 5/39) and Shafali Verma (87 and 2/36) ensured India&rsquo;s moment of destiny could not be denied.
Deepti, Shafali script India&rsquo;s golden night
Fittingly, India&rsquo;s triumph was shaped by two players with contrasting journeys. Deepti, the ever-reliable workhorse, finished as the tournament&rsquo;s highest wicket-taker (21) and bowled with guile and grace on the grandest stage. Shafali, on the other hand, was a story of second chances &mdash; drafted into the squad from outside the preferred group after Pratika Rawal&rsquo;s injury.&nbsp;
Confined to domestic cricket with Haryana weeks ago, the 21-year-old dynamo returned to the world stage with an innings of audacity and maturity &mdash; 87 off 84 balls &mdash; before taking two crucial wickets to tilt the game decisively India&rsquo;s way.
Her re-entry into the XI proved a masterstroke as she and Smriti Mandhana (45) gave India the perfect launchpad with a 104-run opening stand, forcing South Africa&rsquo;s bowlers into disarray after a two-hour rain delay. Mandhana&rsquo;s dismissal denied her a half-century, but it capped off a record-breaking campaign &mdash; 434 runs at 54.25, the most by any Indian batter in Women&rsquo;s World Cup history, including a century and two fifties.&nbsp;
Star of India's semifinal win over mighty Australia, Jemimah appeared to be prepping up for another long haul in the middle, but a superb low catch from skipper Laura Wolvaardt at cover off Khaka foiled her plans in the 30th over. With two set batters back in the dugout, India's hopes were pinned on skipper Harmanpreet for a defining innings, but that was not to be.
Proteas resist, India stand tall
South Africa began their reply briskly, with Tazmin Brits (23) and Wolvaardt adding 51 for the first wicket. But the breakthrough came via Amanjot Kaur&rsquo;s direct hit, and from there, India&rsquo;s bowlers tightened the noose.&nbsp;
Shree Charani&rsquo;s immaculate lines on a placid surface fetched Anneke Bosch&rsquo;s wicket, before Shafali&rsquo;s double strike rattled the middle order. When Wolvaardt threatened to take the game away, Deepti struck twice in four balls &mdash; removing the Proteas skipper and Chloe Tryon (9) &mdash; to break the spine of the chase. She fittingly applied the finishing touch, dismissing Nadine de Klerk for her fifth wicket to spark celebrations of a lifetime.
A victory for generations
The night was soaked in symbolism. Harmanpreet lifted the trophy that eluded Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, India&rsquo;s torchbearers for over two decades. For the younger generation led by Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh, it marked the dawn of a new era &mdash; one where Indian women&rsquo;s cricket finally stood shoulder to shoulder with the sport&rsquo;s powerhouses.
As fireworks lit up the Navi Mumbai sky, the emotion on Harmanpreet&rsquo;s face said it all. The wait was over. From heartbreak to history, India&rsquo;s women had finally rewritten their story &mdash; and this time, they wrote it in gold. If June 25, 1983 was a watershed moment for Indian men's cricket, when Kapil's Devils beat the mighty West Indies at the Lord's, November 2, 2025 will be a seminal moment for women's cricket movement.
Rohit Sharma, who carries the scars of November 19, 2023, was watching the final from the stands with a prayer on his lips that Harmanpreet Kaur doesn't meet his fate. For Harmanpreet, the lady who has done way more for Indian women's cricket than anyone can envisage, knows how much it hurts to lose a final as it happened eight summers back and her girls didn't let her down. As she latched on to Nadine de Klerk's offering while back pedaling at extra cover, Ian Bishop fittingly called the moment "inspiring generations".&nbsp;
For head coach Amol Muzumdar, who couldn't wear the whites that he richly deserved, the global triumph with the women's national team would certainly heal those wounds that he has carried for years.

Prime Minister Narendra Mod, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and UP CM Yogi Adityanath congratulated the Indian women’s cricket team for their historic first-ever World Cup win, praising their skill, teamwork, and determination.

PM Modi congratulates Indian women's cricket team on World Cup win

Prime Minister Narendra Mod, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and UP CM Yogi Adityanath congratulated the Indian women&rsquo;s cricket team for their historic first-ever World Cup win, praising their skill, teamwork, and determination.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated the Indian women's cricket team for winning its first-ever World Cup with a 52-run victory over South Africa.
"A spectacular win by the Indian team in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Finals. Their performance in the final was marked by great skill and confidence," he said in a post on X.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A spectacular win by the Indian team in the ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup 2025 Finals. Their performance in the final was marked by great skill and confidence. The team showed exceptional teamwork and tenacity throughout the tournament. Congratulations to our players. This&hellip;
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1985052859059302562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"The team showed exceptional teamwork and tenacity throughout the tournament. Congratulations to our players. This historic win will motivate future champions to take up sports," Modi added.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also congratulated the team, saying the women cricketers have won hearts across the nation.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Congratulations to Team India on clinching the ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025! What a display of courage, skill, and belief. You&rsquo;ve not just won a trophy, you&rsquo;ve won hearts across the nation. Every Indian is proud of you! 🇮🇳 Saare Jahan se accha Hindustan humaara A golden moment&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/uoMTk74ppz">pic.twitter.com/uoMTk74ppz</a>
&mdash; Om Birla (@ombirlakota) <a href="https://twitter.com/ombirlakota/status/1985054192600490106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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"Congratulations to Team India on clinching the ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025! What a display of courage, skill, and belief. You've not just won a trophy, you've won hearts across the nation. Every Indian is proud of you! 'Saare Jahan se accha Hindustan humaara'. A golden moment for Indian cricket and for women in sports!" he said on X.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday congratulated the Indian women's cricket team and said their win in the World Cup is "historic".
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ऐतिहासिक विजय... विश्व विजेता भारतीय महिला क्रिकेट टीम का हार्दिक अभिनंदन! देश वासियों को हृदयतल से बधाई! आप सभी देश का गौरव हैं। भारत माता की जय 🇮🇳
&mdash; Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) <a href="https://twitter.com/myogiadityanath/status/1985052301376233825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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"Historic victory. Hearty congratulations to the world champion Indian women's cricket team! Heartfelt congratulations to the people of the country! You all are the pride of the nation. Bharat Mata ki Jai," he said in a post on X in Hindi.

Rohit Sharma led the side secured victory by 7 wickets against South Africa in Cape Town which was also the shortest Test match ever in terms of deliveries bowled

India script historic triumph in Cape Town with Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah playing starring roles

A historic triumph, a resurgence after a deflating loss, India pulled off an incredible win in Cape Town, riding on great performances from their two speedsters - Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.

<h2>On a dramatic first day, where 23 wickets were lost, Mohammed Siraj's exceptional bowling was the highlight, where he returned figures of 6/15.&nbsp;</h2>

In a remarkable resurgence, Team India, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, emerged victorious in the second Test at Cape Town against the Proteas, scripting a historic milestone. This iconic victory, achieved on the second day, will forever be etched in the annals of cricket, following a dramatic first day that saw a staggering 23 wickets fall.
Mohammed Siraj's magnificent bowling artistry was on full display, claiming his third five-wicket haul in Tests and destroying South Africa's batting lineup. The Proteas were skittled for a mere 55 runs, their lowest total since returning to international cricket. In these moments, Siraj redefined what it means to be relentless.
Rohit Sharma's positive approach set the tone for India's innings, contributing a brisk 39 off 50 balls. Vital contributions from Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli propelled the team, though India eventually folded at 153, with a bizarre twist of losing their last six wickets without scoring. Despite this, India's lead stood taller than South Africa's first-innings effort.
The second innings of the Proteas started with caution but soon unraveled. Dean Elgar, in his final international outing, fell to Mukesh Kumar, triggering a collapse. The day's play ended with South Africa in disarray.
Day two belonged to Jasprit Bumrah's bowling genius and Aiden Markram's resilience. Bumrah's five-wicket haul was a masterclass, while Markram's century stood as a beacon of defiance in an otherwise faltering lineup. Siraj eventually claimed Markram, drawing the innings to a close with South Africa setting India a target of 79.
In the final innings, Rohit Sharma, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, unleashed a boundary blitz, setting the stage for victory. Despite some hiccups, Rohit's presence anchored India's chase to a triumphant conclusion.
The series, though evenly poised, highlighted India's dominance, especially in the second Test. Elgar's heroic 185 in the first Test was the only barrier to an Indian series win. The intent and performance of the Indian squad, especially the bowlers, were commendable. Bumrah's return was a spectacle, Siraj achieved career-best figures, and debutant Mukesh Kumar impressed all with his skill.
The batting line-up, led by KL Rahul's century and Virat Kohli showed fight in tough conditions for batters This series has set the stage for India's future conquests in South Africa, bringing the dream of ultimate triumph in these tours ever closer to reality.
<a href="https://www.editorji.com/sports-news/cricket/bumrah-takes-6-but-markram-s-incredible-century-sets-india-a-target-of-79-sa-vs-ind-1704362248964">Bumrah bags 6-wicket haul but Markram's incredible century sets India a target of 79 | SA vs IND</a>

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