VVS Laxman, Mohammad Kaif and Virender Sehwag react to India series win

The Indian team entered the record books by winning the 5th ODI at Elizabeth Port by beating South Africa by 73 runs to win the six-match series 4-1. This was India’s first bilateral ODI series win in South Africa. With this win, they have also cemented their place at No.1 spot in ICC ODI Team Rankings. India needed to win the 6-ODI series 4-2 to stake a claim at dethroning South Africa from the top of rankings.

This was also Kohli’s 37th ODI win from 48 matches as captain. India now has won 9 successive bilateral ODI series. West Indies have won a record 14 straight wins.

Following the victory, wishes started pouring in for the Men in Blue. There was plenty of praise for this team’s efforts in achieving what their predecessors couldn’t. Former India opener, who recently grabbed headlines for his heroics in ‘Ice Cricket’ took to his Twitter account and wrote, “Many Congratulations to the Indian Cricket team on their first bilateral series win in South Africa. Brilliant consistency and hunger throughout and winning this series overseas is just a sign of things to come. Special team #SAvIND”

Lots of other India veterans lauded the Men in Blue’s heroics in the rainbow nation.

You can see the Tweets below

Congratulations to Virat Kohli and his Indian team on yet another stellar performance and a series win. This is Virat Kohli ‘s India and its a special team. Great great result. #SAvIND

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 13, 2018

Many Congratulations to the Indian Cricket team on their first bilateral series win in South Africa. Brilliant consistency and hunger throughout and winning this series overseas is just a sign of things to come. Special team #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/eISyJ6HzUN

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 13, 2018

Congratulations India on a historic series win. The wrist spinners have been incredible and this win must be really sweet for Virat and the boys. Thoroughly outplayed South Africa #SAvIND

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 13, 2018

Match Details

The hosts’ chances of overhauling India’s 274/7 plummeted when they lost their first three wickets inside the first 13 overs. Hashim Amla played a clinical inning of 71 and shared partnerships of 62 with David Miller and 39 with Heinrich Klaasen. He was eventually run out by a direct hit from Pandya, effectively ending the home team’s any hopes of a comeback.

Indian wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were effective on a slow pitch, taking four and two wickets respectively. In tandem with Chahal, Kuldeep repeatedly flummoxed South Africa’s batsmen. Earlier in the day, India opener Rohit Sharma had the best reply to silence his critics with a scintillating century of 115.