India captain KL Rahul’s chat with South Africa all-rounder Keshav Maharaj, caught by the stump mic, has gone viral following India’s series-clinching win at Boland Park in Paarl.
SA vs IND, 3rd ODI Scorecard
Rahul led India to a 78-run win against South Africa in Paarl as the Men in Blue clinched the three-match ODI series 2-1. In doing so, he became just the second India skipper after Virat Kohli to win an ODI series in South Africa.
During the second innings, Maharaj walked into bat with South Africa reeling at 177 for 6 in 33.2 overs. Upon Maharaj’s arrival in the middle, the speakers started playing the song ‘Ram Siya Ram’ at Boland Park, which prompted Rahul to mention how the same song is played whenever he walks into bat. Maharaj agreed with Rahul and responded with a smile.
Wicket-keeping batter Sanju Samson was the star of the show in the first innings, smashing his maiden international hundred while stitching a crucial partnership with Tilak Varma to turn the game’s tide. Samson scored 108 runs off 114 balls, smashing six boundaries and three sixes while forming a 114-run stand with Tilak, who also scored his maiden ODI fifty to guide India to 296 for 8 in the first innings.
Defending 297 in the series decider, pacer Arshdeep Singh turned on the heat and picked up a four-wicket haul to dent South Africa’s chase. Tony de Zorzi, who had scored his maiden ODI hundred in the second ODI, smashed an 87-ball 81 but couldn’t guide his side to victory.
The Men in Blue bowled out the hosts for 218 runs in 45.5 overs to clinch the series 2-1.
India’s tour of South Africa will now move to its final leg. Having drawn the T20I series 1-1, winning the ODI series 2-1, India will now gear up for the all-important two-match Test series against the Proteas, as they aim to win their first-ever bi-lateral Test series in South Africa.
