Twitter Reactions: Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan's brilliance help India level series

Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer deflated the visitors with a 161-run stand for the third wicket.

By Chaitanya Prakash

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Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson
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Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson (Photo Source: Twitter/BCCI)

India spanked South Africa in the second ODI in Ranchi on Sunday, the 9th of October, to set up an exciting series finale. The Men in Blue got home with seven wickets to spare, chasing South Africa's 278 on the back of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan's belligerence with the bat. Iyer scored a majestic ton during India's chase as his purple patch in the 50-over format continued.

Unlike the previous encounter, India made a sedated start to the chase. But veteran opening batter Shikhar Dhawan once again succumbed to Wayne Parnell. Meanwhile, Shubhman Gill played some eye-catching shots before he was dismissed by a brilliant reflex catch by Kagiso Rabada in his followthrough.

India were in a spot of bother and required a partnership to get their innings back on track, and that is exactly what happened as Ishan Kishan took the attack to the Protean bowlers, especially the spinners in front of a jubilant home crowd. The southpaw had an in-form Shreyas Iyer for company in the middle as the duo kept the visitors at bay.

After bashing the spinners out of the attack, Kishan then plummeted the intimidating Anrich Nortje for two gigantic sixes in an over to send the home crowd in a frenzy. But the hometown hero fell just seven short of a memorable ton, not before putting India in pole position to level the series. 

Kishan's dismissal brought in last match's hero Sanju Samson to the crease. Although South Africa managed a few quit overs, Iyer, who started cramping due to the humidity, registered a magnificent ton, his second in the format, to take India home with plenty of deliveries to spare. He finished the innings with a boundary and remained unbeaten on 113, guiding India home with more than four overs to spare.

Indian bowlers pulled things back nicely after Hendricks-Markram stand

Earlier in the match, Keshav Maharaj, who took over the leadership role in the absence of the unwell Temba Bavuma, decided to bowl first after winning the toss. The visitors were pegged back instantly after Quinton de Kock was cleaned up by a steaming Mohammed Siraj in the third over of the match.

Janneman Malan and Reeza Hendricks consolidated for a while before the debutant Shahbaz Ahmed caught the former plumb in front for his maiden international wicket. With the Proteans under a bit of pressure, Hendricks and Aiden Markram calmed things in the middle with a 129-run stand for the third wicket.

But just when South Africa were preparing for takeoff, Siraj returned to land a crucial blow in the form of Hendricks' wicket. Markram followed suit soon after as Indian bowlers tightened the screw. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller tried to capitalize on the platform set by the earlier pair, but the hosts never let the Proteas out of sight and eventually restricted them to a par total of 278 runs, a total which was lot less than what the visitors had planned during their mid-innings break.

Mohammed Siraj made a strong claim for a ticket to Australia after producing decisive bowling figures of 3/38 in his ten overs in Ranchi. Apart from Avesh Khan, all the other Indian bowlers chipped in with a wicket each.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the Indian young guns outmuscling the Proteas in the second ODI:

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India vs South Africa 2024IndiaSouth AfricaMohammed SirajIshan KishanShreyas Iyer