The innings exploded into life with Rohit Sharma, opening alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, unleashing a ferocious assault on South Africa's new-ball attack. Rohit smashed three boundaries in Nandre Burger's second over, racing to 14 off just eight balls and injecting momentum into the powerplay.

However, controversy erupted on the last ball of that over when Burger induced a short-of-length delivery that kissed the edge; wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock pouched a sharp catch, and on-field umpire Rod Tucker raised the finger. Rohit, in disbelief, reviewed instantly, but UltraEdge confirmed a faint spike, upholding the decision and sending the Indian Captain trudging off, his frustration evident as he gesticulated toward the umpires. India slipped to 40/1 after 4.5 overs, with Jaiswal unbeaten on 13 off 21—many of the runs boosted by seven wides from Burger and Ngidi's erratic lines.

Jaiswal and Kohli rebuilt steadily, adding 26 runs for the second wicket before the opener's innings ended abruptly at 22 off 30 balls, caught by Corbin Bosch off Marco Jansen's probing length delivery in the 11th over. The dismissal, under mounting pressure from South Africa's disciplined lengths, left India at 66/2 after 10 overs, with Ruturaj Gaikwad now joining Kohli at the crease. Kohli, fresh off his 52nd ODI century in Ranchi, wasted no time, flicking his first ball for a boundary and looking in ominous touch with crisp drives and quick footwork against the seamers. By the 11-over mark, he had moved to 6 off 5, while Gaikwad settled in cautiously, as India aimed to accelerate past 300 on a surface offering true bounce but occasional lateral movement. South Africa's bowlers, leaking extras early, needed to stem the flow to keep the chase within reach.

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The onus now falls squarely on Kohli to anchor and accelerate, especially with the middle order—Shreyas Iyer, Rahul, and Tilak Varma—yet to fire in tandem during the series. At 101/2 after 16 overs, India holds a slight edge, but quick wickets could expose vulnerabilities against Maharaj's spin in the middle overs.

For South Africa, chasing under lights with potential dew could prove tricky, as evidenced by their near-miss in Ranchi, where Kuldeep Yadav's 4/68 derailed a spirited chase. This venue's lone prior ODI in 2023 saw India bowl out New Zealand cheaply on a seaming track, but today's conditions favour batsmen, setting up a potential thriller. With a series-clinching win in sight, Rahul's men will draw on Ranchi's composure, while Bavuma's return adds tactical bite to the Proteas' bid for redemption. As the match unfolds, all eyes remain on Kohli's blade to script another chapter in his storied ODI legacy.

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