South Africa secured a memorable victory in the Raipur ODI by chasing down India’s stiff target of 359 runs with four balls remaining. Despite brilliant centuries from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Virat Kohli, India could not convert their batting performance into a win. The match, dominated by batters on both sides, slipped away from India largely due to ineffective bowling and costly fielding errors at crucial junctures.
Fielding lapses proved decisive for India, with Yashasvi Jaiswal dropping a regulation catch of Aiden Markram near the boundary when the South African skipper was on 53. Markram later capitalised on the reprieve and went on to score a century. Dew and moisture on the outfield also made judgment difficult for Indian fielders, resulting in several misfields and additional boundaries for South Africa. Even seasoned fielders like Ravindra Jadeja were seen committing rare mistakes, further tilting the match in favour of the visitors.
The Indian bowling unit struggled throughout the chase, highlighting the shortage of quality pace options on the day. Prasidh Krishna conceded 85 runs in 8.2 overs for two wickets, Harshit Rana gave away 70 in 10 overs for one wicket, while Arshdeep Singh returned with 2 for 54. Adding to India’s concerns, the toss once again went against them — marking the team’s 20th straight toss loss across formats. South Africa’s decision to bowl first proved crucial, as dew during the second innings helped their chase and ultimately ensured a successful finish.