India vs South Africa, 2nd ODI at Raipur, IND vs SA, Dec 03 2025 - Match Result

10.40pm Well, then. We are set for a thrilling series decider in Vizag on Saturday. These two teams have played two exciting games of cricket, and the decider should be a cracker as well. That's all from us tonight. We have plenty of reading for you - Al Muthu has written on Gaikwad's sterling century, and a detailed look at all the interesting stats from the game, apart from Deiva's report. There's all this and more for your reading pleasures. For now, on behalf of Ekanth, Vairavan and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo, it's Abhimanyu signing off. Good night!

10.30pm Time for the presentation ceremony.

Aiden Markram is the player of the match: "[Different approach?] Yeah you always take learnings form your previous game. We expected it to swing and be a challenge up front but we had to get through that challenge. We saw what our middle order could do in the last game so we knew we came shot in the top order. Very similar tonight under the lights. We had to get in first and then you find your rhythm, you increase the pressure. We decided that Temba and myself will play our shots and if one got out, we'd build a partnership with the new batter. Proud of the boys to get the job done under pressure. You've got eight really good batters and Keshav who can do his thing as well. We also want to play a brand that takes the bowlers on and bat with freedom. The boys have been putting their hands up throughout and now just the top order needs to start firing. [On his position] Hard to say. Everyone says opening is great because there's pace on the ball and fielding restrictions, but the ball's also nipping around but I am sure I will fall in love with [opening] again."

SA captain, Temba Bavuma: "Happy to have crossed the line. I think coming into this game we were thinking how we can get better with the ball. With the bat we had to put a stand up up front. The partnership with Aiden and Breetzke carrying on his form and Bosch showing a lot of maturity finishing it off. Unbelievable game and I think it was a record chase and it showed how tough it is to play against this Indian side. I came into the crease with Aiden, he was hitting the ball and I was trying to build a partnership with him. Wanted to take the game deep, although that's not the thing anymore in modern cricket. But it was about the partnership. A lot of confidence we can take from this and set up an enthralling series. [Is this SA's best XI?] The guys here are your best players, definitely. There is a high level of competition between the guys. Batters are scrambling for their positions and Quinton is back. And similarly for bowlers. Performances like this hold us in good stead. [De Zorzi and Burger] Did not look good, Nandre not being able to finish his spell and Tony walking out. If need be we have two guys waiting in the wings to do the job come Saturday."

India captain, KL Rahul: "Not really a [tough one to swallow] given how much dew there is and how difficult it is to bowl in the second innings. Thought we did well in the last game. Today the umpires were nice to change the ball. Toss plays a big role so I'm kicking myself (laughs). There is always things we could have done better. With the bat, I know that 350 looks good, but that has been the chat in the dressing room even after the last game about how we can get the extra 20-25 runs to give bowlers a cushion with the wet ball. [Kohli and Gaikwad] It was beautiful to watch Rutu and the way he batted. Virat, we have seen him do it 55 times, or 53. He just goes about doing his job. It was beautiful watching Rutu bat, the way he picked up the tempo after reaching his fifty. [On his entry point] Today is the first time that I've been slotted at 6 and walked in at 5. Otherwise it's always a decision before the game. But the way the partnership was going on, they set the tempo, so GG bhai and me felt that would be the right time for me to walk in and keep the tempo going. I got a fifty in the last game so someone who is high on confidence was probably the right person to walk in. We decided when we got past the 30-35 over mark."

Mathi: "The stat showed for Ruturaj Gaikwad is also applicable in IPL also" - Great spot! (and thanks for the URL)

10.20pm Markram's century set the tone for South Africa. Then it was Breetzke and Brevis who carried the flag. When it looked like they had a hiccup, Corbin Bosch came in and blitzed his first few balls to bring the required rate under run-a-ball before coasting to victory largely with the help of singles. Keshav Maharaj was also calm and composed in what could have turned into a tense finish. Excellently executed chase. India meanwhile will rue the slowdown that followed the dismissals of Kohli and Gaikwad after their marvelous centuries, despite KL Rahul scoring a quickfire half-century. Anyway, presentation ceremony coming up soon.

Corbin Bosch: "[When de Zorzi got injured] We just wanted to run hard. We knew we'd be able to pick up the runs. There's always a belief in this team that we can always chase anything. And we showed that. The game was set perfectly, the guys at the top order set it up nicely for the lower order. The dew made it tough for the bowlers and made it a bit easier for us to score the runs. [Would Burger have batted?] I had full belief that if needed they would have come in to bat. I told Keshav to take it easy and the runs would come. I am very happy batting at No. 8 and just happy to contribute."

Sampath with another nugget: All three instances of two Indian batters scoring hundreds in a men's ODI against South Africa ended up in defeat.. [37 in wins and 4 in losses against other teams]

10.10pm South Africa had to fight back after those centuries from Kohli and Gaikwad. They had to fight back after losing Markram for 110. They had to fight back after a cluster of wickets following a key stand between Breetzke and Brevis. They had to fight two hamstring injuries. And in the end, they have completed a massive chase with ease. Yes, dew was on their side, and India's fielding was sloppy, but it doesn't take away from a comprehensive performance from the Proteas.

A slightly unwanted stat nugget for Ruturaj Gaikwad: His maiden T20I century ended up on the losing side with the highest chase ever against India in T20Is. And now, his maiden ODI century has also ended up on the losing side with the joint-highest chase ever against India in ODIs. This is also the first time that Virat Kohli has ended up on the losing side against South Africa after scoring an ODI century against them. India had won on all six previous occasions where he had tonned up. This is also Kohli's first century in a losing cause since Ranchi 2019 against Australia.

Karthik: "The Ruturaj unfortunate stat - in both matches Prasidh econ rate was the worst of bowlers." -- Yikes, good observation!

Prasidh krishna will bowl the final over

Sandeep: "Does ODI have super over ? " -- Yes they do. But don't have such devious thoughts please. Spare a thought for us commentators.

Arsh goes around the wicket

Safeer : "Slow over rate?" Yes

Saurav Ranu: "India fielding have made 359 look as 330 today. Poor stuff.. "

Eight needed off the last two overs. Arshdeep will bowl out

India are three overs behind so only four fielders outside the circle for the last two overs

zee: "Bosch 18 off 7 basically neutralised his own terrible last over that went for 18."

Harshit Rana to bowl out

Over the wicket again

sandeep: "Even Bosch knows that next over will be game over no need to do any thing silly. "

Around the wicket