On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, the 2nd ODI between India and South Africa concluded in an exciting high-scoring match at the Shaheed Bir Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur. South Africa won by a narrow margin of four wickets and only four balls to spare, thus becoming the first to complete the massive target that the hosts had set. The exciting outcome tied the three-match series of ODIs 1-1, and this paved the way to a spectacular series finale at Visakhapatnam.
Result of the 2nd ODI: South Africa wins by 4 wickets
It was an entertainment treat to the fans as they watched three individual centuries in one match- something that does not occur very often, and this was the third occasion in Indian-South Africa ODIs.
India batting (first innings): 358/5 (50 overs)
India scored an impressive 195-run third-wicket stand, the highest Indians have ever scored in an ODI at this rank against South Africa.
Virat Kohli made his 53rd ODI century and made 102 out of 93 balls.
It was the first ODI century of Ruturaj Gaekwad, and he made 105 off 83 balls.
Permanent captain KL Rahul was soon at the back of the nets, and he was not out of 66 deliveries of 43 balls.
South Africa batting (2 nd innings): 362/6 (49.2 overs)
South Africa pursued an all-time high of 359, the second-largest score of the format against India.
The victory was closed by a brilliant century of the Man of the Match, Aiden Markram.
Half-centuries of Matthew Britzke (68) and explosive Dewald Brevis (54 off 34 balls) helped.
The lower order crossed the finish line through Corbin Bosh (29) and Keshav Maharaj (10), assisting their team to the finish line.
Performances and major roles of key officials
It was a battle of star power, and there was personal talent on both sides, although in the end, the combined batting score of South Africa prevailed over the overwhelming first innings score of India.
Man of the match: Aiden Markram (South Africa)
Part: Pre-emer and master-planer of the pursuit.
Performance: An excellent game of 110 98-ball innings that includes heavy hitting and a good strike rotation. It was the first century against India in ODIs.
Effect: His innings were the necessary basis of a colossal pursuit. He has given up an important 101-run partnership with Temba Bavuma and has also left the aggressive middle-order batsmen to swing freely. Notably, he exploited the poor situation of the Indian spinners.
The top players in India (unscored)
Rituraj Gaekwad: Get his maiden ODI century (105 off 83 balls), right up to speed with Kohli. He gained much ground upon his fifty, and took his century off in a little over 25 balls.
Virat Kohli: Resumed his good form again with his 53rd ODI century (102 off 93 balls). His experience and association with Gaekwad brought India into a comfortable sum.
KL Rahul: He made 66 off 43 balls during the death overs, which was unbeaten, a significant contribution to the 350 runs mark of India.
Most important supporting role (South Africa)
Dewald Brevis: With a tremendous strike rate of 54 on 34 balls (five of which were sixes), he altered the flow of the game and kept the run rate required in check during the middle overs, which are crucial.
Matthew Britzke: Registered his second ODI fifty, a fantastic 68 runs, but succumbed at the end. He procured an imperative 92-run streak with Brevis.
Corbin Bosh and Keshav Maharaj: The two lower-order batsmen completed the task in the calmest manner and put the required number of runs to win by four balls to spare.
Analysis: Bowling position and situation
The mammoth 358/5 by India was more or less presumed as a series-clincher. But there were two influential factors involved against the Indian team:
Heavy dew: The after-match reports focused on the extreme effects of heavy dew on the second innings of the South Africans. This further complicated the acquisition of the ball by the Indian bowlers, and more so for the spinners such as Kuldeep Yadav (1/78), whose diversity was not as effective and capable of control.
Bowling problems: Arshdeep Singh (2/54) proved to be the most efficient pacer, and he made valuable wickets, whereas Prasidh Krishna (2/85) was expensive and he made his runs at a very high economy rate, and relieved the pressure on the chasing team. The Indian captain KL Rahul, also added that India must get themselves an extra 20-25 runs to bail the bowlers out of these challenging circumstances.
The collective batting power of South Africa, combined with the flawless scheme of running down, allowed South Africa to jump the mental wall of 359 runs. We are all ready to watch the final match now, in which both teams will need to re-strategize and, in this regard, take into account the effects of the toss and the prevailing conditions of the night.
Declaration
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