SA vs IND 2018: Sachin Tendulkar Lauds Team India After Durban Win

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has lauded Team India, hailing the two partnerships that helped the Men in Blue trump South Africa by six wickets in the first One-Day International at Kingsmead, Durban on Thursday (February 1).

First, it was the partnership between spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav which stopped the hosts from posting a huge total before Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane stitched together a match-defining stand to take India home.

At 83 for one, the Proteas were looking primed to post a good total, but once the spinners came into play, their innings got derailed. Captain Faf du Plessis held firm from one end, but Kuldeep Yadav (3 for 34) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2 for 45) ran through his side’s middle-order to reduce them from 83 for one to 134 for five.

Du Plessis kept the fight on till the last over and scored a brilliant 120 but could only guide his team to 269 for eight in the allotted 50 overs.

The score was a good one on the tough Durban pitch where stroke-making was difficult but Virat Kohli’s century and Ajinkya Rahane’s fifty helped India chase down the total with utmost ease.

The visitors were in a spot of bother after losing both of their openers – Rohit Sharma (20) and Shikhar (35) cheaply, but Kohli and Rahane sealed the game in India’s favour by stitching together a record 189-run stand. Kohli scored 112 while Rahane compiled 79.

It was a perfect start for Virat Kohli & Co. in the six-match series, as they will be looking to avenge their loss in the Test series. The team has been flooded with congratulatory messages since registering the clinical victory and Tendulkar also took to Twitter to wish the team.

The former India batting star praised the team, writing:

“Two great partnerships to take India to victory. First, @imkuldeep18 along with @yuzi_chahal and then @imVkohli with @ajinkyarahane88. Great work, boys. Keep up the momentum, #TeamIndia. #INDvSA.”

Two great partnerships to take India to victory. First, @imkuldeep18 along with @yuzi_chahal and then @imVkohli with @ajinkyarahane88. Great work, boys. Keep up the momentum, #TeamIndia. #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/tQnfETAuco

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 2, 2018

Here is the news feed:

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