India lost the 1st ODI against South Africa in Boland Park, Paarl. Despite a clinical start with the bat, the hosts ripped apart the Indian middle order to register a comprehensive victory.
Virat Kohli, who was playing his first ODI after being sacked as the ODI skipper, smashed his 63rd international fifty. In an innings filled with his vintage strokes, Kohli stitched a crucial partnership with Shikhar Dhawan. While the duo was on the crease, it looked that the Men In Blue were cruising to a comfortable win. However, after both Dhawan and Kohli departed in quick succession, the Proteas bowling attack exposed the inexperienced middle-order changing the game all over again.
Kohli becomes India’s top scorer in away games
Kohli in his knock, crossed another milestone to be the highest run-scorer(5108 runs) for India in away ODI matches. He surpassed the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar‘s tally of 5065 runs to be on the top of the charts. Tendulkar amassed the runs in 146 innings with an average of 37.24. Kohli accomplished his feat in just 104 innings with a staggering average of 58.04. Sri Lankan icon Kumar Sangakkara(5518 runs) is the all-time top scorer in away ODIs.
Kohli now stands 6th on this A-list
Kohli created another record by going past Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid in the list of Indian batters with maximum runs against Proteas. Presently, he(1338 runs) stands only next to Tendulkar(2001 runs) in the elite list of stalwarts. Apart from Tendulkar, Kohli is only behind Ricky Ponting (1,879), Kumar Sangakkara (1,789), Steve Waugh (1581 runs), and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (1559 runs) on the list of highest run-scorers against South Africa.
Kohli’s valiant efforts went in vain after Shamsi claimed the prized scalp against the run of play. South Africa in their first innings had put up a total of 296-4 backed by twin centuries from captain Bavuma and Van der Dussen.
In recent times, Kohli has been the center of headlines for his surprising decision to quit Test captaincy post the Newlands Test. His decision marked the culmination of an era, as India heads to upcoming challenges under new leadership at the helm.
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