In a powerful response to recent discussions about his future, batting maestro Virat Kohli smashed a brilliant century to guide India to a 17-run victory over South Africa in the first ODI at Ranchi on Sunday. The innings comes at a crucial time, with the 2027 50-over World Cup on the horizon and debates swirling around the long-term roles of India's senior stars.
Kohli's Masterclass in Ranchi
The 37-year-old Kohli, who now focuses solely on the ODI format after stepping away from Tests and T20Is, played a commanding knock of 135 runs off just 120 balls. This monumental effort marked his 52nd ODI hundred and his 83rd international century across all formats. His innings, studded with 11 fours and seven sixes, was the cornerstone of India's imposing total of 349 for 8.
Kohli found a perfect partner in captain Rohit Sharma (38), who contributed a vital 57 to notch his 60th ODI half-century. The duo stitched together a 136-run partnership for the second wicket, steadying the innings after an early wicket and laying a solid platform for the later batters to accelerate.
Answering the Selectors' Questions
This performance was particularly significant following recent comments from chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who had pointed out the unusual challenge of cricketers maintaining peak performance while playing only one format. Both Kohli and Rohit have been central to conversations about India's roadmap for the next World Cup cycle.
Kohli's authoritative century has effectively put those immediate doubts on hold. He demonstrated not just his enduring class and hunger, but also his irreplaceable value to the team's middle order, especially in high-pressure chases and big-ticket events.
Praise from the Legends
The cricketing world was quick to laud Kohli's genius. Former India opener Virender Sehwag took to social media platform X to shower praise on the champion batter. In a poetic Hindi post, Sehwag wrote, "Virat Kohli has once again shown that making runs for him is as easy as we make tea."
He further added, "Kohli is not chasing records, records are chasing Kohli. The hunger is still the same, the passion is still the same. King stays King!" This sentiment echoed the feelings of millions of fans who watched Kohli dismantle the South African bowling attack with characteristic precision and power.
The victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. More importantly, it serves as a potent reminder that Virat Kohli, with his unwavering dedication and sublime skill, remains a formidable force as India builds towards its future challenges, with the 2027 World Cup firmly in sight.
