The tourists chased down India's challenging 5-199 with two balls to spare following an opening stand of 77 off 53 deliveries between AB de Villiers (51) and Hashim Amla (36).
JP Duminy then hit an unbeaten 68 off 34 balls, sharing a match-winning fourth-wicket stand of 105 with Farhaan Behardien (32 not out).
Rohit Sharma scored 106 off 66 balls for India
.
The second match will be played in Cuttack on Monday and the third in Kolkata next Thursday.
South Africa will also play five one-day internationals and four Tests during the 10-week tour of India.
Source - AFP
