India head coach Ravi Shastri has thanked the Durban crowd after India registered a commanding six-wicket win over South Africa in the first game of the six-match ODI series. Captain Virat Kohli's artistic 112 maintained India's winning momentum in South Africa as he led his team to a convincing win on Thursday.
Shastri posted a video on his instagram account in which many Indian supporters were seen cheering for the team while the visitors were on the way to the hotel from Kingsmead.
Kohli was the driving force in a 189-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane (79) that swept aside South Africa's bowling and took India cruising to 270/4 and past the target in just 45.3 overs.
South Africa's total of 269/8 was not huge but was still competitive, especially with India batting second under floodlights in the day-night game at Kingsmead.
Also, this was India's first ODI win against South Africa at Durban, and only their sixth overall in bilateral engagements here since 1992-93.
Kohli led India to victory with 27 balls to spare, though, keeping India on top after they won the third Test last weekend for a consolation victory in that series.
India's commanding victory in Durban ended top-ranked South Africa's 17-match winning run in ODIs at home, a streak that included a 5-0 whitewash of Australia.
Kohli's match-winning innings also overshadowed the feats of his counterpart, Faf du Plessis, who rescued a faltering South African effort with 120 from 112 balls. Du Plessis hit 11 fours and launched two sixes over midwicket, taking the home team out of trouble at 134/5 and to 269/8 in 50 overs.
