India, Dec. 1 -- Harshit Rana silenced his critics with a standout spell against South Africa in the first ODI at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi. Under scrutiny in recent months, the right-arm pacer shared the new ball with Arshdeep Singh and made an immediate impact. He struck twice in his very first over, delivering pinpoint bowling that put the Proteas under pressure right at the start of their 350-run chase.

The 23-year-old struck twice in the space of three deliveries, removing Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock for ducks. He sneaked one through Rickelton's defence to rattle the stumps before drawing an outside edge from de Kock with a delivery that shaped away, which KL Rahul safely collected behind the wicket. Later in t...