(Cricket news) After losing the 1st ODI, India bounced back to level the series in Ranchi. It was a good performance by India with both bat and ball as they managed to win the match comfortably by 7 wickets with 25 balls to spare. Temba Bavuma and Tabraiz Shamsi sat out the game due to minor illness and were replaced by Reeza Hendricks and Imaad Fortuin. Anrich Nortje came back into the side in place of Lungi Ngidi. India made 2 changes as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravi Bishnoi made way for Washington Sundar and debutant Shahbaz Ahmed. Stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj won the toss and elected to bat first.

Batting first South Africa managed to get to 278 for 8. Aiden Markram was the highest run scorer with 79 off 89 balls as he hit 7 fours and a six in his innings. Reeza Hendricks continued his great form by scoring 74 from 76, hitting 9 boundaries and a maximum. David Miller and Janeman Malan played good cameos. Shahbaz Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur picked up a wicket each. Mohammed Siraj was the pick of the bowlers as he got 3 scalps as he continues to perform well in the limited opportunities he gets in the white ball formats. During the partnership between Markram and Hendricks it looked like South Africa would run away with the game but the men in blue pulled things back.

Chasing 270, India lost skipper Dhawan really early as he was cleaned up by Wayne Parnell. Shubman Gill scored 28 off 26 balls before Kagiso Rabada picked his wicket. Gill's innings was short but it included some glorious stroke play. After Gill's dismissal, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer took control. Kishan returned to form as he scored 93 off 84 balls hitting 4 fours and 7 sixes. The left hander made life hell for the Proteas spinners as he continuously smashed them over midwicket but missed out on a century. Iyer on the other hand got to the landmark scoring an unbeaten 113 off 111 balls. He hit 15 boundaries in his innings to lead India to a series-levelling victory. The two teams will now meet for the decider in Delhi.

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