Top Run-Getters In Career's First 100 ODIs for 4000 Or More

Dhawan now has 4309 runs at average of 46.33 in 99 innings including 13 centuries. His tally is second only to Hashim Amla among all players in their first 100 ODIs. Virat Kohli had the previous highest aggregate among India players, with 4107 runs at 48.89 in 97 innings with 13 centuries. In terms of centuries in first 100 ODIs, only Amla (16) and David Warner (14) have scored more than Dhawan.

The 'spin twins' conceded 14 boundaries in yesterday's game

The Wanderers has thrown up another spectacle. Another one in pink. South Africa nail their chase of 202 inside 26 overs to get their first ODI win of the series, and keep this six-match series alive. Two big moments in this game: the lightning break in the first innings and Chahal's no-ball in the second: the latter one was arguably much more significant, because it was the difference between Miller freeing himself up and SA five down with plenty to get. However, those are the margins that cricket deals with. And you have to get in line with those margins to turn up on the right end.

Virat Kohli takes the fifth place on leading ODI run-getters list among Indians

It's a carnage for the ages, the digital ages. The Wanderers, in the pink of its glory refuses to disappoint. Thank the rain, thank the lightning, thank Duckworth-Lewis, thank Chahal and his foot, thank the sloppy fielding, but South Africa have finally found a way to reverse the trend, to reverse the slide. No, don't get fooled by Phehlukwayo's 23 off 5, the game was in their bag much before. Perhaps even during the first lightning break that sucked away all of India's batting momentum. And then when it looked like Miller was getting schooled while batting, Chahal's no ball was just the diploma he needed to pass out.

Highest average in ODI vs SA for minimum of 15 innings

Virat Kohli, losing skipper: In the second innings when the game was placed after the interval, we got a difference of 35 between runs and balls, it was almost a T20 game. We had to take our chances, no balls aren't easy. In hindsight you have to give credit to South Africa, we didn't grab our chances and they deserved to win. After the first lightning break when Shikhar and Jinks (Rahane) came off, the guys felt that the wicket got faster and the weather got cooler and they felt that the ball wasn't coming on nicely. The ball was getting a little wet, our spinners got a bit of turn but the South African batsmen took their chances and they came off. They improvised well and they deserved to win. The game getting shorter worked in their favour; had it been a full game you never know. It was more like a T20 game and you have to go after the bowlers. If a side has momentum in their favour, it is very difficult to stop them. Especially guys like Miller and their keeper batted brilliantly as well. When AB got out we felt we were in the game but these two took it away from us. No balls are something that hurts you as a team and it is something we hope to rectify and not repeat them in the next games. They are a quality side and we know that. We also know that we have to be at the top of our game to get a win and that's what we'll do for the next game.

Not sure if he's Heinrich Klaasen or Martin Guptill

Heinrich Klaasen, Man of the Match: Unbelievable feeling; it is the best I've felt in my career so far. I was 100-percent nervous walking into the crease, my heart was beating very loudly. I have done it in the past though at the domestic level. I just want to play, doesn't matter where I bat. I was told that I would be opening, but was drafted down to number six and thank God for that. Sometimes you have to try playing innovative shots and am glad it came off tonight.

Aiden Markram finally gets his first victory as a captain

Aiden Markram finally has a win as a captain. He can't get enough of the hugs in the dressing room. Meanwhile, Kohli is in a hurry to get off. Nothing quite went his way. To be fair, what India eventually ended up with seemed quite decent for a 50-over contest. Just that the ball got wet, Jo'burg's altitude took over and South Africa eventually had 15 balls way too many. Whether Bhuvi and Bumrah ending up under-bowled and the overuse of the spinners was justified could only be a question for future science-fiction writers.

Another good knock while chasing by Virat Kohli

Kohli, India captain: We thought at the toss, the ball is going to do a bit in the morning. Was a much harder wicket than Durban. Bhuvi and Bumrah started really well. We didn't let SA get too much up front. Spinners were outstanding again. To win like this obviously feels very good. What we thought in the morning, we did all those things right. We knew that we won't get grass on the pitch. When it's seaming it's anyone's game anyway. We have the quicks to back that. We knew the wickets were going to be hard and dry. Those two (wrist-spinners) are a handy bunch together. If we set up to chase down totals, we know exactly what we want to do. Rohit and Shikhar's intent at the top is crucial. They started off well in the last game too. We back guys to play positive cricket. Small totals, it's always important to start positive. It's a wonderful position to be in. We know their middle-order is inexperienced, and we look to cash in on that. The way our spinners are bowling, we are confident about continuing the same momentum.

India defeats South Africa by 9 wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the ODI series

Off we go again. Goodbye. Nah, we're here. It's a staggering win for India at Centurion to go 2-0 up. Fifty minutes back, it would have felt a lot more staggering, but cricket's laws wouldn't have it that way. We're still reeling from how ridiculous that break for lunch was. But tough as it may be, let it not steal the thunder from Yuzvendra Chahal's maiden ODI five-for which crashed South Africa to their lowest ODI total at home. India's wrist-spinners had an extraordinary home season last year, and if there were any doubts as to their effectiveness overseas, those have been comprehensively dispelled in these first two ODIs. Chahal and Kuldeep combined for a total of eight wickets today on a slightly slow pitch at Centurion, which was to India's liking. That still doesn't explain South Africa's capitulation though. It was all too easy for the visitors from there as they romped home through breezy knocks from Dhawan and Kohli.

Lowest ODI totals for South Africa at home

Though the dynamics of limited-overs cricket have changed in the last few years the home team still rolls out pitches that might be flatter but bring some home advantage. If it is a match in the subcontinent the wicket gets slower and the ball turns as the game progresses. The ball moves early and seams throughout when playing in countries like Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa. But the Proteas have been fish out of water in the ongoing ODI series against India.

Among other hapless scores is – 119 against England in Port Elizabeth during which they could only play 36.5 overs. England have bowled them out cheap under 150 thrice with the other two being 129 in London back in 1996 where they played 41.4 overs but the runs never seemed to be adding up on the board. Another was 149 in Johannesburg, 2000. The Aussie bowlers have also had the better of them in ODI cricket and bowled them out twice for less than 150.

Yuzvendra Chahal picked his maiden ODI five-wicket haul today

Yuzvendra Chahal says - Great feeling, first five-wicket haul in ODIs, it's a good feeling to perform well for the country. There was a bit of spin, so my idea was to vary my pace. This wicket was much better when compared to Durban, the turn was consistent. The captain always backs me, MS gives me ideas, I have played a fair bit of matches and I know what to do now.

India bowled out South Africa for their lowest ODI total at home

So rampant have been Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav that they've bowled South Africa out with so much time left in the day that India will be batting before lunch. The control they have as wristspinners brings them into play on the flattest of pitches. But Centurion has provided them a slow turner and they've taken full advantage. Eight wickets for 42 runs in 14 overs.The South Africans were clueless against the wrist spinners. They have a couple at their disposal. But, do they have enough on the board? I fear no. Let's see how things pan out. Here's Morne with a couple of slips in place.

A five-wicket haul for Yuzvendra Chahal and this is his best figures in ODIs

12.6 over for Chahal to de Kock, out Caught by Hardik Pandya!! Oh dear! de Kock pulls a long hop straight into the hands of deep square leg. He got a start, but nothing more than just a start. He runs in and accepts the offering. The hosts have now lost both opening batsmen. de Kock c Hardik Pandya b Chahal 20(36) [4s-2]

26.3 over for Chahal to Zondo, out Caught by Hardik Pandya!! In, out and in. Pandya takes a juggling catch and South Africa lose their fifth wicket. Second wicket for Yuzvendra Chahal! Zondo c Hardik Pandya b Chahal 25(45) [4s-2]

28.2 over for Chahal to Duminy, out Lbw!! Duminy misses the sweep, India go up for an lbw appeal and umpire Adrian Holdstock raises his finger.  Three reds show HawkEye. Into the tail now. Duminy lbw b Chahal 25(39) [4s-2]

30.3 over for Chahal to Morne Morkel, out Lbw!! Another one bites the dust! Morne Morkel misses the wrong 'un and that's plumb. Morkel isn't happy - not sure why. Can't get more plumb. He was struck on the back leg. Morne Morkel lbw b Chahal 1(4)

32.2 over for Chahal to Chris Morris, out Caught by Bhuvneshwar!! South Africa have been bundled out for 118. A five-wicket haul for Yuzvendra Chahal and this is his best figures in ODIs. Can't blame Morris here. He had no other choice other than attacking. The ball turned away and he ended up slogging straight into the bucket hands of Bhuvi at sweeper cover. Chris Morris c Bhuvneshwar b Chahal 14(10) [4s-1 6s-1]

SA lost their last six wickets for just 19 runs

India need 119 to go 2-0 up in the 6-match series. A very poor performance from the South Africans. The openers got off to a cautious start, before Hashim Amla nicked one to the keeper off Bhuvi in the tenth over. After that, it was all about the spin twins. SA lost three wickets on 51. Debutant Khaya Zondo offered a bit of resistance against the spinners, but he fell victim to Chahal trying to play a big shot. That opened the floodgates again and the hosts lost their last six wickets for just 19 runs. The combined figures of Chahal and Kuldeep: 14.2-1-42-8.

Aiden Markram on the feeling of captaining the national side with legends in them

"I'll keep Hash [Hashim Amla] close to my side in the field, and obviously other experienced players as well. It's going to be something very exciting, it's going to be a new challenge. But it's a positive challenge to look forward to." Aiden Markram on the feeling of captaining the national side with legends in them. India and South Africa have a 2-2 head-to-head record in matches at Centurion, with one ending in a no result.South Africa have won six of their last seven ODIs here with one ending in a no result.Quinton de Kock has scored four hundreds in six innings at the Centurion Park with his scores at this venue reading: 15, 101, 4, 135, 178 and 109.Hashim Amla has scored a hundred in each of his last four innings here. He has five tons overall here and averages 76.91 from 12 ODI innings.

Even MS Dhoni is not impressed with the Indian captain's DRS calls

Ever since the Indian team started favouring the Decision Review System (DRS), they have had a terrible record. The Indian skipper's track record when it comes to using DRS must be second best from the last with his Bangladesh counterpart Mushfiqur Rahim taking the last position.Not only with the Decision Review System,
the Indian captain has a poor record against any 'DRS' acronym.By now, the captain should have implemented the DRS successfully, but he failed to do so for the second Test in succession. DRS is very crucial when it comes to Test matches unlike the limited-over formats and it is sad to see the Indian captain failing to use it to perfection.Oh, yeah, DRS here stands for "Drop Rohit Sharma".

The Sharmas in the Indian team

Indian cricket team's rule number one: if you are picked in the squad and have Sharma as your surname, you get a place in the team irrespective of how well you play. This is a rule that gained popularity ever since India's current skipper took over the captaincy. The reason behind this is UNKNOWN, yes, seriously unknown.

Remember his first Test as a captain when he picked all three Sharmas in the squad? It had both Rohit and Ishant with Karn Sharma being the third one, and the most surprising part is Karn played in place of R Ashwin in the Test.

Rohit will never get dropped from the Test team if this is the case

You have heard the phrase "Perform or Perish". It means, if you do not perform, you will be dropped. But, with the current Indian team, it is the other way around, "Perform and Perish", thanks to rule number two.The skipper of the team is so kind that he is willing to drop the players who are performing well so that the opposition team can give the world number one Test team some competition.
He dropped Rahane for the first two Tests and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was the best batsman and bowler in the first Test, for the second match, and still has Rohit Sharma in the playing XI.So, who will be dropped for the next Test in Johannesburg? Certainly not Rohit.

Thanks to this, both Rohit and Dhawan will play in England

Indian cricket's rule number three states that the captain should be the best player in the team. If you are better than him, you won't be picked.Ajinkya Rahane has been India's best player away from home ever since his debut, yes, he is better than the skipper in these conditions.
How can you be better than the captain if you don't get a chance to play? Remember that your captain should be the best player in the team.So, one can expect the likes of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma to play as a batsman along with the captain when the India team tours England later this year.

Ajinkya should learn to do this more often

Rule number four in the Indian cricket team states that if you don't respect your captain's favourite, you won't get a place in the playing XI. It is quite obvious that the Indian captain's favourite is coach Ravi Shastri, especially after seeing how adamant he was about getting the former Indian all-rounder the coach's role.

Now that there are no valid reasons to drop Rahane from the side, one can infer that the right-hander might have forgotten to salute the Indian coach in one of the team's training sessions.

Where is Ajinkya Rahane?

Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane was not included in the playing XI for the Test and in his place, his ODI counterpart Rohit Sharma was included, yes, you read that right. India lost the match by 72 runs and Rohit managed to score a combined total of 21 runs in the Test.Many expected the Indian captain to bring Ajinkya back for the second Test at the expense of Rohit.
What happened ahead of the second Test? Rahane remained on the sidelines and adding to that, Bhuvneshwar was dropped from the side because Ishant Sharma was more suited to the conditions on offer.The skipper, who said Rohit was preferred to Ajinkya because of his current form, dropped Bhuvneshwar in spite of him being the best batsman and bowler for India in the first Test.