Shreyas Iyer's bat flies off his hand while playing shot, picture goes viral

India and South Africa are currently playing in the first ODI of the three-match series at the New Wanderers Stadium, in Johannesburg.

During India's chase, in the ninth over, a hilarious incident happened. Batter Shreyas Iyer was at the crease facing a delivery from left-arm fast bowler Nandre Burger when his bat slipped from his hand while playing a shot. The bat flew towards square leg while the ball went over mid-on. Shreyas had attempted a hard pull shot on a shortish delivery, causing him to lose grip of his bat. Luckily, the top edge of the shot didn't land straight into the hands of a fielder.

Coming to the match, South Africa, winning the toss, elected to bat on a challenging pitch. The same strip that favoured the spinners in the recent T20 encounter proved dangerous for the Proteas, offering ample seam, swing, and uneven bounce. Facing the aftermath of the World Cup heartbreak, both teams fielded inexperienced line-ups, with frontline fast bowlers rested for the upcoming Test series. Despite the raw composition, India's bowlers exploited the conditions brilliantly.

Arshdeep's early breakthroughs set the tone, with Mukesh Kumar's incisive opening over creating problems for the South African top order. Hendricks fell for a duck, and van der Dussen followed suit, leaving the hosts reeling. De Zorzi fought back briefly with aggressive strokes but fell prey to a mistimed pull shot. Avesh Khan continued the onslaught, securing crucial wickets, including Markram and Miller. Despite Phehlukwayo's resistance, Arshdeep claimed his maiden five-for, dismissing the Proteas for 116.

Good to have a win under belt, completely different to what we expected: KL Rahul

Chasing the modest target in the series opener, India's Ruturaj Gaikwad fell early, but debutant Sai Sudharsan showcased class with a fluent half-century. Partnering with Shreyas Iyer, Sudharsan's elegant drives and confident footwork guided India to victory with over 33 overs to spare. Following the game, Indian skipper KL Rahul expressed his satisfaction, emphasizing the importance of securing a win. Rahul commended the team for maintaining discipline in the face of challenging conditions.

“I am happy. Good to have a win under the belt. Completely different to what we expected. The plan was to get the spinners in the game. The boys did really well. The boys did well to stay disciplined. The ball kept moving around. There is a lot of cricket being played. You prioritize one format. For now, it is Tests and T20s. Everyone is performing and trying to do well for the country. Good chance for them to get a taste of international cricket,” Rahul stated.