South Africa won the opening one-day international of the three-match series by 31 runs. India couldn't manage with the South African bowlers and fell short in the end, chasing a score of 297.
Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul added 46 runs in 51 balls before Aiden Markram, the South African bowler who opened the innings, removed Indian captain KL Rahul in his fifth over.
Shikhar Dhawan and former skipper Virat Kohli held the outpost at 46/1, putting up 92 runs in 102 deliveries. Dhawan reached his half-century in the 26th over, scoring 79 runs off 84 balls with 10 boundaries. He was bowled by Keshav Maharaj. Following that, India began to lose quick wickets in the middle overs, and the match began to slide away from them.
After mistiming a sweep shot against Tabrazi Shamsi, Virat Kohli completed his fifty and was dismissed. With three boundaries, the former Indian skipper scored 51 runs off 63 balls. Lungi Ngidi dismissed Shreyas Iyer for the fourth batsman, and Rishabh Pant was unluckily stumped out two balls later.
South Africa scored 296/4 in the first innings after winning the toss and electing to bat first at Boland Park in Paarl. Temba Bavuma, the South African captain, and Rassie van der Dussen, the South African all-rounder, both contributed hundreds to help their team to a fighting total.
Indian bowlers got off to a good start, with Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling tight, accurate lines that stopped the batsman from scoring easily. The first African batter to be dismissed was Janneman Malan. Jasprit Bumrah set up Malan with a series of inswingers before knocking him over with a surprise outswinger in the fourth over.
After that, de Kock and Bavuma took the wicket and added 39 runs in 66 balls for the third wicket. The African batsman was ultimately dismissed on the first ball of the 15th over when Ashwin bowled him with quick delivery for his first ODI wicket in four years. Aiden Markram was dismissed after just two overs, thanks to a stunning throw from Venkatesh Iyer.
Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen put on a show after that. Bavuma took his time, while van der Dussen moved quickly. Both of these batsmen used smart plans in the middle overs, looking to sweep the spinners and deny them the edge. Bavuma was removed in the 49th over after scoring 110 off 143 balls. Rassie van der Dussen, on the other hand, was unbeaten on 129 in 96 balls with nine fours and four sixes.