Losing the Test series by 2-1 was a complete disappointment for the Indian cricket team. But as they say, every new chapter of success begins after failure. The men in blue lived up to this quote after clinching an easy win against the Proteas in the first ODI, in Durban on February 1. Most of the cricket fanatics wouldn’t have imagined India coming back into the series just like England after losing the Ashes. But the outcome turned out to be totally different.
Though Team India had to face a few early blows, but the scenario quickly became frustrating for the home team. While chasing a target of 270 runs, Virat Kohli smashed his 33rd ODI hundred, which was also his first on South African soil in coloured jersey. He and Rahane added 189 runs for the 3rd wicket and took the game to the doorsteps of the victory. Both of them lost their wickets when just 11 runs were needed to win; MS Dhoni ended the game once again with a boundary and India won the game by 6 wickets.
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Let’s take a look at the records set by Team India during the first ODI at the Kingsmead in Durban:
1. This is Team India’s first ever victory in Durban against South Africa. India have played 8 ODIs but never won before. It was the only Protea ground where India hadn’t defeat the home side before.
2. India became the team to put an end to South Africa’s unbeaten streak in ODIs after 17 games at home. No other team won more than 12 ODI matches in a row at home.
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3. For the 4th time in the history of ODI cricket, captains of both the sides scored a ton.
4. Virat Kohli scored a magnificent hundred against the Proteas which was also his first century in South Africa in ODI format.
5. It was Virat Kohli’s 20th century while chasing against any opposition in ODI format.
6. Ajinkya Rahane scored his 24th ODI fifty, which was also his 5th consecutive in ODI format. After Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli, he became the 4th Indian to score five 50+ in a row.
7. Virat Kohli has now become the 10th international cricketer to score centuries in 9 different nations in ODI format. He is also the 3rd player after Sachin and Sanath Jayasuriya to do so in 9 Test playing nations.
8. In the last 41 innings, Kohli has scored 11 centuries which is the joint most by an Indian captain along with Sourav Ganguly.
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9. Indian spinners took 5 wickets in this game which has happened in Durban in for the first time over the decade.
10. Kohli-Rahane’s 189-run stand is the highest Indian 3rd wicket partnership against South Africa in ODIs.
