Jaiswal’s Brilliant Century and Kohli’s New Milestone Seal the Series for India

India wrapped up the three-match ODI series against South Africa with a commanding nine-wicket victory in Visakhapatnam, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s maiden ODI century and another polished half-century from Virat Kohli. Although Kohli narrowly missed out on what could have been a sensational hat-trick of centuries, he still managed to etch his name further into the record books by surpassing his previous best run tally in a three-match series.

The chase began with confidence and control. Set a target of 271, India’s opening pair—Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal—put on a magnificent stand of 155 runs. The partnership set the tone for what would soon become one of India’s most dominant batting displays of the year. Rohit looked in sublime touch before falling for 75 to Keshav Maharaj, mistiming a lofted drive.

When Kohli walked into bat at No. 3, the Indian supporters erupted with anticipation. The in-form 37-year-old, coming off centuries in each of the previous two ODIs, looked poised to attempt a rare hat-trick of hundreds in the format. Fans secretly wished South Africa had scored a few more runs, if only to give Kohli enough deliveries to chase that record.

Nevertheless, Kohli played with fluency, timing, and supreme control. Remaining unbeaten on 65 off 45 balls—with six boundaries and three towering sixes—he guided the chase with minimal effort. In doing so, he set a new personal record: his highest run tally in a three-match ODI series, surpassing the 283 runs he scored against Sri Lanka two years earlier. This time, he amassed 302 runs across the series.

At the other end, Jaiswal produced a career-defining innings. Starting cautiously and requiring 75 balls to reach his first fifty, he accelerated impressively thereafter. His next 36 balls brought him the remaining 50 runs needed for his maiden ODI century. The 22-year-old opener finished unbeaten, forming a match-winning 116-run partnership with Kohli in just 84 deliveries. India crossed the line in 39.5 overs, sealing the match by nine wickets and clinching the series 2-1.

South Africa, meanwhile, struggled to impose themselves with the bat earlier in the day. Despite a spectacular effort from Quinton de Kock—who struck 106 from 89 balls—they failed to build partnerships around him. No other batter managed even a half-century, and regular wickets hampered their progress. They were eventually bowled out for 270 in 47.5 overs. India’s pacer Prasidh Krishna was the standout, finishing with four wickets and applying consistent pressure.

The match offered a blend of individual brilliance and collective dominance from India. Jaiswal’s rise, Kohli’s consistency, and Rohit’s leadership all converged to produce a performance that leaves India in excellent shape as they look ahead to future limited-overs assignments. Although Kohli did not complete his century hat-trick, the series further reinforced his status as one of the most enduring and influential players in modern cricket.