What a day in Ranchi—cricket fans are buzzing after India’s batsmen put on a clinic, posting a mammoth 349 for 8 against South Africa in the opening ODI. If you’re tuning in for the India vs South Africa live score on November 30, 2025, you’re in for a thriller. South Africa’s chase has already hit the skids at 11 for 3, thanks to some blistering pace from Harshit Rana. But hold on—the drama’s just heating up with Rana dishing out a cheeky send-off to young gun Dewald Brevis later in the innings. Let’s break it all down, from those explosive boundaries to the on-field fireworks.
India’s Batting Masterclass Sets the Tone
India’s innings kicked off with the kind of swagger that reminds you why they’re world champs. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal strode out under sunny skies, and Jaiswal wasted no time—smacking the very first ball from Nandre Burger for four, then unleashing a massive six. It felt like the hosts were out to bury any ghosts from that recent Test series loss.
But cricket’s a funny game, isn’t it? Jaiswal nicked off for 18 soon after, caught behind by Quinton de Kock. Enter Virat Kohli, who looked like he’d been waiting his whole life for this pitch. Teaming up with Rohit, they stitched a partnership that had the crowd roaring. Rohit, ever the showman, clobbered back-to-back sixes off Prenelan Subrayen to race to his fifty. Oh, and in the process? He edged past Shahid Afridi’s all-time ODI sixes tally—352 now, folks. That’s the kind of stat that sticks.
Rohit departed shortly after for a fluent 50, shrugging off a close lbw shout he waved away—no DRS drama there. Kohli, though, was in beast mode. He brought up his half-century with a cheeky six off Corbin Bosch, then kept the pedal down. By the time Ruturaj Gaikwad fell for just 8—thanks to a stunning diving catch from Dewald Brevis at point—the scoreboard read 183 for 3. Brevis’ grab? Pure athleticism; he flung himself full length and somehow clung on. Moments like that make you love this sport.
Kohli’s Century Steals the Show
As the middle overs unfolded, Kohli ticked off his 52nd ODI ton—his first since February—with a crisp boundary that sent the stands into delirium. Coach Gautam Gambhir was on his feet, and even a cheeky fan dodged security to touch the master’s feet in reverence. Wild times. Kohli pushed on to 135, mixing elegant drives with those signature whips through midwicket, before holing out in the 45th over while gunning for more.
KL Rahul, captaining in style, anchored things with a composed 60, complete with a towering six. He and Ravindra Jadeja (32) added quick runs late on—Jadeja’s cheeky scoop for four was a highlight—helping India cross 340. The Proteas’ bowlers, led by Ottneil Baartman’s 2 for 60, fought back in the death, snaring Jadeja and Arshdeep Singh off consecutive balls. Kuldeep Yadav survived the hat-trick ball, though, to seal a total that’s India’s second-highest in ODIs against South Africa. Only that monster 401 for 3 back in 2010 tops it.
- Top Scorers for India: Virat Kohli (135), KL Rahul (60), Rohit Sharma (50)
- Key Partnerships: Rohit-Kohli (100+ runs), Rahul-Jadeja (50-run blitz)
- Bowling Standouts for SA: Ottneil Baartman (2/60), Corbin Bosch (tidy death overs)
South Africa’s Shaky Start—and Rana’s Rampage
South Africa, captained by Aiden Markram in Temba Bavuma’s absence, won the toss and surprisingly chose to bowl. Big mistake? Their chase of 350 began disastrously. Harshit Rana, the young Delhi pacer making waves after his IPL exploits with KKR, exploded into life right away. In his very first over, he shattered Ryan Rickelton’s stumps for a golden duck, then induced de Kock into a loose drive caught brilliantly by Rahul at second slip—another zero.
The Ranchi crowd erupted. Rana, with his wiry frame and that infectious fire in his eyes, had just turned the screw. Markram scratched around for 7 before Arshdeep Singh trapped him lbw, leaving the visitors reeling at 11 for 3 after just 4.4 overs. It was reminiscent of those old-school collapses—think Proteas’ infamous 2015 semis choke, but on steroids.
Rana wasn’t done. Fast-forward to the 22nd over, with South Africa wobbling at around 100 for 4 after steadying briefly through Matthew Breetzke and Marco Jansen (who’d later pile on 177 together—talk about a rescue act). Rana steams in, clocking 138 kph with a full delivery angling across Brevis. The youngster, fresh off that earlier screamer in the field, middles a drive straight to Ruturaj Gaikwad at deep cover. Caught—and what follows is gold.
The Fiery Send-Off: Rana vs Brevis Heats Things Up
As Brevis trudges off, head bowed and bat dragging like it’s glued to the turf, Rana doesn’t hold back. He marches down the pitch, finger jabbing the air, practically herding the 22-year-old back to the hut with that trademark Delhi aggression. “Get back quick, mate,” his gestures scream—raw, unfiltered passion that IPL fines couldn’t quite tame.
Remember last year? Rana got pinged for similar send-offs in the IPL—once to Mayank Agarwal of SRH, another to DC’s Abhishek Porel. The IPL stewards weren’t amused, but here in Ranchi? The locals lapped it up. Brevis, to his credit, didn’t bite back; he just kept walking, frustration etched on his face. No umpires’ raised eyebrows this time—probably because it stayed just shy of the line. Rana’s fire? It’s his superpower. After silencing the doubters with those early strikes (he ended with a three-fer, the pick of the bunch), this was his way of saying, “I’m here to stay.”
It’s moments like these that add spice to bilateral series. South Africa’s innings? They clawed back with Breetzke and Jansen’s grit, pushing past 200 before more wickets tumbled. But with pacers like Rana and Arshdeep breathing fire, India’s bowlers looked primed to defend that total.
Quick Stats on Rana’s Day
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harshit Rana | 8 | 35 | 3 | 4.37 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 7 | 28 | 1 | 4.00 |
(Source: Match scorecard updates)
What’s Next in This IND vs SA Clash?
As stumps near (or whatever passes for them in a day game), South Africa need a miracle to chase this down—think 350 with wickets in hand? Unlikely, but hey, cricket’s thrown weirder curveballs. India, riding high after the Test drubbing, smell blood. A win here resets the narrative, especially with Kohli in century-scoring form and Rahul leading from the front.
If you’re as hooked as I am on these Ind vs SA latest cricket score twists, stick around for the full wrap-up. Matches like this—part demolition, part drama—remind us why we clear our Sundays for the whites (well, coloreds).
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