India vs South Africa World Cup 2023 LIVE: IND 249/4; Rahul departs for 8 as Jansen finally gets a wicket

17:20 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

FOUR! First boundary of the Indian innings in 35 deliveries as Suryakumar Yadav gets off the mark by slashing a short, wide delivery from Jansen over the leaping backward point fielder! Brings up the 250 for India in the process. IND 253/4

17:17 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

OUT! What a catch by Rassie van der Dussen! Was a mistimed pull from Rahul off a short delivery from Jansen, but RvDD still had to cover a fair bit of distance running to his right before putting in a slide to complete what is a worthy contender for 'Catch of the Tournament'. IND 249/4

Rahul c van der Dussen b Jansen 8(17)

17:16 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 42 overs,India 249/3 ( Virat Kohli 78 , KL Rahul (W) 8)

Jansen returns at the start of the final powerplay, and restricts Kohli and Rahul to four singles in his seventh over. Shamsi bowls a front-foot no-ball in the second delivery of the following over, but does well to deny Kohli a boundary in the free hit while the latter shapes for a pull towards the midwicket fence. Six off Shamsi’s seventh, with India not having collected a boundary in nearly five overs now.

17:05 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 40 overs,India 239/3 ( Virat Kohli 75 , KL Rahul (W) 5)

Couple of tidy overs from Ngidi and Rabada with three singles coming in each over. India reach 239 at the end of the second powerplay, and are very much on track to go past 300 at the end of their innings. Knowing South Africa’s explosive batting lineup though, they could do with a little more on the board.

16:58 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

OUCH! Ngidi’s lying on the ground after copping a powerful hit on the foot while trying to stop the ball. Kohli had timed his straight drive fairly well off a full delivery, and ended up collecting a single after the ball deflected towards mid on. IND 235/3

16:55 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 38 overs,India 233/3 ( Virat Kohli 73 , KL Rahul (W) 1)

FOUR! Rabada fires one down Kohli’s leg, and the latter accepts this gift, flicking it past the short fine fielder to collect his eighth boundary and move into the 70s. Kohli and new batter KL Rahul collect a single each in the remaining deliveries, the latter opening his account in the process.

16:47 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

OUT! Iyer's stay at the crease comes to an end just when the Indian No 4 was looking to shift gears towards the end of the second powerplay. He had pulled a
short ball from Ngidi earlier in the over towards deep midwicket for a boundary and attempts something similar in the fifth delivery. Fails to pick the cutter from Ngidi though, and ends up skieing the ball, with Markram settling under it and completing a fine catch. IND 227/3

Iyer c Markram b Ngidi 77(87)

16:44 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 36 overs,India 223/2 ( Virat Kohli 68 , Shreyas Iyer 73)

Change from both ends, with Rabada replacing Markram after Ngidi comes in place of Jansen. Iyer collects a brace in the fourth delivery, with Jansen putting in a slide near the long on boundary to save a couple of runs. Iyer decides to take the aerial route in the following delivery as well, and nearly gets caught by Jansen at deep midwicket. Four off Rabada’s sixth, with the pacer having conceded 23 runs for the dismissal of Rohit so far.

16:40 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

FOUR! Kohli takes a couple of steps down the track and rolls his wrists to send the ball scurrying past mid on/midwicket, collecting his seventh boundary in the process. Ngidi concedes a boundary off the first ball of a new spell after replacing Jansen. IND 217/2

16:34 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 34 overs,India 213/2 ( Virat Kohli 62 , Shreyas Iyer 70)

FOUR! A half-tracker from Markram and Kohli duly pulls it towards the square leg fence to collect his seventh four. SIX! Iyer too goes for a pull after he's brought on strike for the final delivery of Markram's second over, and this time he comfortably clears the midwicket fence for his second maximum. Jansen had bowled a decent second over in his second spell by conceding three singles, but Markram ends up going for 14.

16:25 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 32 overs,India 196/2 ( Virat Kohli 55 , Shreyas Iyer 60)

FOUR! Short from Jansen and Iyer promptly pulls it over the midwicket fence to bring up the century partnership with Virat Kohli for the third wicket! Jansen ends up leaking 14 runs after being brought back into the attack. South Africa's leading bowler in the World Cup so far has conceded 57 runs in five overs without a single wicket, and might not get to bowl his full quota. Off-spinner Aiden Markram replaces Shamsi from the other end and concedes three in his first over including a wide. Drinks brought to the field after the 32nd.

16:22 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

FOUR! Iyer picks the off-cutter from Jansen and dispatches it through the covers to collect his second boundary in three deliveries from Jansen! IND 187/2

16:13 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

FOUR! Shreyas Iyer brings up a second consecutive half-century in style, going for a lofted drive over mid off off Jansen's bowling after the left-arm seamer is brought back in the 31st over. He brings up the milestone in 64 deliveries, collecting four fours and a six along the way. IND 183/2

16:11 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 30 overs,India 179/2 ( Virat Kohli 54 , Shreyas Iyer 47)

FOUR! Slightly short from Shamsi and Iyer promptly picks the delivery, hitting with the turn to pull it behind square for his third four. Hammers the next delivery down the ground that would have given him back-to-back fours had it not been for a superb effort by Jansen at the long on boundary. Three singles collected in the remaining four deliveries as India reach 179/2 after 30.

16:07 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 29 overs,India 170/2 ( Virat Kohli 53 , Shreyas Iyer 39)

FIFTY up for birthday boy Virat Kohli — his fourth fifty-plus score in his last five outings! What a run he's been having in the ongoing World Cup so far! Takes his time to bring up the milestone, consuming 67 deliveries along the way with five boundaries to his name so far. Seven off Maharaj's final over of the day as he signs off with excellent figures of 1/30 from 10.

16:01 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

SIX! Shreyas Iyer finally decides to give the spinner a charge, skipping down the track and launching the ball over his head towards the sight screen! He had hit quite a few of these against Sri Lanka on Thursday, and takes a while to produce one today. IND 160/2

15:59 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 26 overs,India 151/2 ( Virat Kohli 47 , Shreyas Iyer 26)

Kohli and Iyer have found Maharaj tough to handle so far today but have maintained a steady flow of runs off Shami’s bowing, with eight coming off the left-arm wrist spinner’s fourth over including a wide in the penultimate delivery. Kohli, meanwhile, is three short of a fourth fifty-plus score in five outings.

15:53 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 25 overs,India 143/2 ( Virat Kohli 42 , Shreyas Iyer 24)

Iyer collects a single in the penultimate ball of Maharaj’s eighth over that brings up the fifty partnership for the third wicket — the second of the innings so far. While the Rohit-Gill stand went past fifty inside five overs, Kohli and Iyer go past the same number in 86 deliveries. India reach 143/2 at the halfway stage and it's anybody's game for the taking from here. India could once again cross 350 if this partnership explodes later. South Africa could restrict them below 300 if they get another wicket or two at this stage.

15:49 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 24 overs,India 141/2 ( Virat Kohli 41 , Shreyas Iyer 23)

Just one conceded by Maharaj in his seventh over, coming off a single collected by Iyer in his second delivery. FOUR! Iyer decides to take the aerial route over extra cover with an inside out lofted drive off Shamsi’s bowling in the following over. Seven off Shamsi’s third.

15:46 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 22 overs,India 133/2 ( Virat Kohli 40 , Shreyas Iyer 17)

South Africa lose a review in Maharaj’s sixth over after a caught-behind appeal is turned down. De Kock and Maharaj think they heard a sound when the ball passes Kohli’s outside edge, but the sound is that of Kohli’s bat brushing against his pad. Three singles off the over with Maharaj having conceded just 18 in six overs so far. FOUR! Iyer moves to his right and goes for a paddle towards fine leg that is initially given four byes, but the umpire later changes his decision to signal a boundary, resulting in Iyer collecting his first boundary in 36 deliveries.

15:43 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 20 overs,India 124/2 ( Virat Kohli 37 , Shreyas Iyer 11)

The Proteas decide to have spin from both ends for the first time today, with left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi joining left-arm finger spinner Keshav Maharaj in the attack. Shamsi, who replaces Coetzee in the lineup today, immediately creates a couple of chances, with de Kock putting down a tough chance in the second delivery after Kohli attempts a glance followed by a leading edge off Iyer’s bat three deliveries later that is too wide for the bowler to complete a return catch.

15:27 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 18 overs,India 118/2 ( Virat Kohli 34 , Shreyas Iyer 10)

Maharaj continues bowling an excellent line, restricting Kohli and Iyer to four singles in his fourth over. FOUR! A welcome boundary for the Indians in the following over, albeit off a thick inside edge after Kohli attempts to cut a short wide delivery. Seven off Ngidi’s second over of the post-powerplay spell.

15:18 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 16 overs,India 107/2 ( Virat Kohli 25 , Shreyas Iyer 8)

Bavuma decides to bring Ngidi back into the attack in place of Rabada while keeping Maharaj at the other end. Ngidi had gone for 34 runs in three overs in the powerplay, but two batters on the backfoot and the field spread out presents him the chance to make amends. A much tidier over from him with just two singles coming off it. Drinks brought to the field at the end of the 16th. India’s run rate goes below seven for the first time in the innings.

15:13 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 14 overs,India 103/2 ( Virat Kohli 23 , Shreyas Iyer 6)

Seven singles collected across two overs as India go past the 100-mark around the 14th over. Iyer, meanwhile, is taking his time to get settled at the crease, having collected six runs in 15 deliveries so far.

15:05 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 12 overs,India 96/2 ( Virat Kohli 19 , Shreyas Iyer 3)

South Africa are starting to fight back now, with a couple of Bavuma’s decisions paying off immediately. First it was the introduction of Rabada that led to Rohit’s dismissal. And the call to bring spin into the attack right after powerplay results in Maharaj cleaning up Gill in his very first over. The left-arm spinner concedes three runs along with the wicket in his first over. Tidy over from Rabada next up with just two coming off it as new batter Shreyas Iyer collects a brace in the penultimate delivery.

15:02 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

BOWLED! Keshav Maharaj cleans up Shubman Gill with a beauty as the left-arm spinner strikes in his very first over of the day! Gill leans forward looking to block the delivery, but the ball not only beats his outside edge, but it ends up clipping the top of the stumps! Even the umpire’s aren’t too sure about the dismissal and need the TV umpire have a look at the replay before the marching orders are made official. IND 93/2

Gill b Maharaj 23(24)

14:55 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 10 overs,India 91/1 ( Shubman Gill 23 , Virat Kohli 18)

FOUR! FOUR! Kohli collects back-to-back boundaries off South Africa’s premier bowler now as Rabada starts leaking runs after getting off to a fantastic start. Kohli decides to go for an aerial drive over the covers before producing a crisp drive down the ground. India race to 91/1 at the end what has been one of their best powerplays in recent memory.

14:53 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 9 overs,India 82/1 ( Shubman Gill 23 , Virat Kohli 9)

Gill nearly gets run out while pushing for a risky single after smacking Jansen for a boundary, with Bavuma attempting a run out at the non-striker’s end. FOUR! Second boundary for Kohli as the former skipper goes for a flick over the square leg region. 10 off Jansen’s fourth as he goes without a powerplay wicket for the first time in the ongoing tournament, conceding 43 along the way.

14:49 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

FOUR! Slightly short from Jansen and Gill pulls this comfortably in front of square over the midwicket boundary. Fourth boundary for him so far. IND 76/1

14:44 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 8 overs,India 72/1 ( Shubman Gill 18 , Virat Kohli 4)

FOUR! And now Kohli gets started with an exquisite drive off his old rival Rabada! KG bowls one full and wide, very much in the arc for the Indian batting star to bring out his trademark shot. Five dots bowled by Rabada in his second over besides the four.

14:42 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 7 overs,India 68/1 ( Shubman Gill 18 , Virat Kohli 0)

SIX! First maximum of the innings for Gill and he ruins what was turning out to be a much better over from Jansen. He skips down the track and decides to take the aerial route over long on. Dot deliveries on either side of that six.

14:41 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 6 overs,India 62/1 ( Shubman Gill 12 , Virat Kohli 0)

Silence falls at the Eden after Rohit’s dismissal, but noise returns slowly after with the crowd cheering for the arrival of birthday boy Virat Kohli, who will be hoping to make the day even more special by bringing up century number 49 today. Rabada’s off to an excellent start in the meantime, a wicket maiden at that with just a leg bye added to the Indian total in the sixth.

14:38 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

OUT! Bavuma's move to bring Rabada into the attack pays off immediately as South Africa's premier bowler gets the wicket of the in-form Rohit who was batting like he was on his way to another double-hundred at the Eden! Rohit skips down the track and attempts to launch the length delivery over the covers, but ends up hitting it towards his opposite number Bavuma at mid off to depart after a cracking 40. IND 62/1

Rohit c Bavuma b Rabada 40(24)

14:31 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 5 overs,India 61/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 40 , Shubman Gill 12)

SIX! Second maximum of the over for Rohit and he once again goes for the pick up shot behind square leg, comfortably clearing the fence in the process! 16 off Ngidi's third over. India are going at over 12 an over in the five overs that have been bowled so far, and Proteas skipper Bavuma might be forced to make some wholesale changes to the bowling plan.

14:29 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

FOUR! SIX! Rohit brings up the fifty opening partnership with Gill inside five overs in what certainly has been India's quickest start of the World Cup so far! Rohit smacks an attempted cutter from Ngidi in the second delivery that becomes a juicy full toss, and the India skipper manages to dispatch it towards the cow corner fence despite a mishit. That is followed by a pick-up shot over the backward square leg fence off a length ball for the first maximum of the innings.

14:25 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 4 overs,India 45/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 24 , Shubman Gill 12)

DROPPED! Jansen nearly has Rohit’s wicket inside the first four overs! Rohit’s on a roll and looks to collect a third boundary for himself in the fourth over, but ends up getting a thick outside edge that flies all the way to third man. Shamsi, who replaces Coetzee in this game, ends up making a mess of the opportunity. 10 off the over.

14:23 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

FOUR! WIDE FOUR! The carnage continues at Eden as Rohit smacks two boundaries in two legal deliveries from Jansen, separated by a wide. Jansen goes a bit short in the second delivery of his second over and the 'Hitman' promptly brings out the pull, nearly collecting a maximum. Follows it up with an on-drive that beats mid on. IND 44/0

14:21 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 3 overs,India 35/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 15 , Shubman Gill 12)

FOUR! Gill targets the midwicket region once again. Nice roll of the wrists from the 23-year-old as the ball races away to the fence. Both Rohit and Gill have collected three boundaries each so far and India are off to a dream start already! 13 off Ngidi's second over.

14:17 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

FOUR! FOUR! And now back-to-back fours for Rohit Sharma, who slashes the ball behind point in the second delivery of Ngidi's second over and follows it up with a crisp drive through the covers! IND 30/0

14:15 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 2 overs,India 22/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 6 , Shubman Gill 8)

Expensive first over from Marco Jansen with 17 coming off it. Not only does he concede eight wides, five of which come in one go after Jansen fires the ball down the leg side that beats keeper de Kock, he also gets hit for two boundaries as Gill opens his account. Gill drives the third delivery through the covers before tucking a length ball along leg through the midwicket region in the penultimate ball.

14:12 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

FOUR! Gill too opens his account with a boundary, keeping the ball very much along the ground with his drive and beating the diving fielder at cover. IND 17/0

14:06 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

After 1 over,India 5/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 5 , Shubman Gill 0)

FOUR! Rohit opens his as well as his team’s account in style with an aerial drive over extra cover off a full, wide delivery from Ngidi. Rohit later keeps the strike with a single off the last delivery, getting an outside edge that flies wide of the slip cordon.

14:03 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

The Jana Gana Mana and Nkosi Sikelel i Afrika, national anthems of India and South Africa respectively, have been sung, the recently-installed bell has been rung by Bangalore boys Rahul Dravid and Roger Binny, the India head coach and the BCCI president respectively, and it’s time for some cricketing action to take place.

Skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill make their way to the centre to open India’s innings with Lungi Ngidi set to bowl the first over.

13:41 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

Teams:

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

13:41 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

Rohit Sharma: Looks like a good pitch. It’s about what we want to do as a team, and whatever the conditions are we want to challenge ourselves. It’s going to be a good game. Two teams on top of the table, playing some consistent cricket. I love it here, love playing here. As a team as well. It’s a beautiful, historic ground. We’re playing the same team. Don’t think we need to change anything.

Temba Bavuma: Looking at the wicket, we would have batted first. Will be a nice challenge for us. That’s an area of the game we’d like to gain confidence in. We’ve obviously done well batting first. We put in good all-round performances with the bat. Bowlers have put up their hands as well. So far so good in terms of our performance. Only one change — Tabraiz Shamsi comes in place of Gerald Coetzee.

13:34 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

TOSS: India win the toss and skipper Rohit Sharma opts to bat

13:23 (IST)

India vs South Africa LIVE

Ravi Shastri and Irfan Pathan take a look at the Eden pitch ahead of the India-South Africa game:

“It’s a lot better on the surface than the previous game between Pakistan and Bangladesh. There was a hint of turn, but it became better to bat with the dew [during that game]. There's a lot more spots today and I think it will assist spinners. The colour of pitch was white but it has got some tan now.”

13:19 (IST)

India vs South Africa

South Africa batting in a nutshell this tournament: Scores of 428, 311, 399, 382 and 357. Quinton de Kock with four centuries and a collective 545 runs. Aiden Markram (362), Rassie van der Dussen (353), Heinrich Klaasen (315) and David Miller have been among the runs as well

13:12 (IST)

AB de Villiers on Virat Kohli: “There are many things I know (laughs) about especially his younger years, but unfortunately, I am not going to talk about them. Virat loves dark chocolate. Dark chocolates are his dark secret, always got a piece somewhere. I think that’s how he trains mentally. That’s his mental toughness. He looks at dark chocolates and tells himself, you are not allowed to take it. That’s his mental preparation before a game.” 

“The other thing about Virat is that he’s such a softie. When he’s not playing, there’s a soft gentleman who loves his alone time. He loves to be in his room. Obviously with his wife and his little one. There’s a soft side to Virat that not many people have seen before, and I’ve been lucky to be a part of it.” 

A perfect catch-up ahead of #INDvSA