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In a powerful display, Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed his first ever One Day International (ODI) century as India national cricket team beat South Africa national cricket team by nine wickets to clinch the three-match series 2–1. Chasing a target of 271 in Visakhapatnam, India’s openers — Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma — built a commanding 155-run partnership.

While Rohit contributed a solid 75, Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 116, steering the chase to completion with more than 10 overs—and plenty of gratification—to spare.

Jaiswal reached his ton in 111 balls, celebrated joyfully as he raised his bat and soaked in the applause — a special moment in just his fourth ODI since debuting earlier this year. At only 23, he has now recorded centuries in all three international formats (Test, ODI and T20), joining an elite club among Indian players.

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His composed yet aggressive approach, especially after reaching fifty, allowed India to dominate the remainder of the chase comfortably. The victory not only wrapped up the match but also secured the ODI series for India, underlining how much faith the team places in his batting maturity.

A Balanced Team Effort — With Star Support

While Jaiswal grabbed the limelight, the win was well-supported across the batting and bowling departments. After the strong opening stand, the ever-reliable Virat Kohli played his part by finishing unbeaten on 65 from 45 balls, calmly striking the winning boundary to close out a dominant team performance. 

On the bowling front, India’s attack dismantled South Africa’s innings, bowling them out for 270 in 47.5 overs. The pace battery led by Prasidh Krishna and the spin from Kuldeep Yadav combined to take four wickets each — a clinical display that prevented the visitors from posting a larger total. 

This all-round dominance illustrated India’s control over the match: from setting the tone early with the bat, to wrapping up the chase swiftly, and then preventing any significant recovery by South Africa with disciplined bowling.

Significance: Breaking Drought and Building Momentum

The win was more than just another series victory — it symbolised a milestone for Indian cricket against South Africa. It marked the end of a long drought: for the first time since 2013, India managed to wrap up an ODI series win over the Proteas. 

Beyond historical context, the match underscored how India’s younger players like Jaiswal are stepping up in big moments — while established stars such as Kohli and Rohit continue to lead. It also showcased how the entire unit, including bowlers and middle-order batters, can come together to produce a comprehensive win. For fans and selectors alike, this displays depth, balance and promise for future white-ball contests.

This article first appeared on Cricfit and was syndicated with permission.

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