Former India captain Rohit Sharma has once again become the toast of social media after his raw and unfiltered reaction to Virat Kohli’s century during the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi went viral. Kohli brought up his 52nd ODI hundred with typical finesse, and while the JSCA Stadium erupted, it was Rohit’s animated response from the dressing room that garnered equal attention on the internet.
Kohli has reached a milestone with Marc Jansen’s sharp edge, his third ODI set at the venue. As the ball flew past point, the cameras caught Rohit jumping up in excitement. He clapped, pumped his fists and appeared to let out a shout or two in sheer excitement celebrating his longtime teammate’s momentous moment. Earlier in the innings, the two put together a partnership of 136 runs, their 20th century stand in ODIs. Kohli’s 52nd hundred also broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most centuries in a single format, surpassing the legendary opener’s 51 Test runs.
In recent months, the public has often linked Rohit and Kohli, both praising them and questioning their futures. Interestingly, the two veterans seem more relaxed and closer than ever. They’ve always shared a professional relationship, but this phase of their careers seems to carry a more personal warmth.
Kohli’s 135 off 120 balls, containing 11 fours and seven sixes, was his 83rd international century and a timely knock after back-to-back ducks in the Australian series. His celebration, complete with a signature jump and fist bump, matched the electric atmosphere inside the stadium. A field intruder even ran onto the field to touch his feet, adding to the drama of the moment.
Rohit too had reasons to feel satisfied with his own work. The former skipper scored a fluent 57 off 51 balls to surpass Shahid Afridi’s long-standing record for sixes in ODI cricket during his stay as he smashed his 352nd maximum. It was his third fifty-plus in four innings and could have been his second hundred in a row had the delivery from Jansen not stayed low.
IND vs SA 1st ODI Update
Their partnership set the tone for India’s total of 349 for 8, which put the hosts in a strong position in the opening match of the three-match series.
There has been considerable discussion about their future as India plans for the FIFA World Cup in 2027. With both having retired from T20Is and Tests, ODIs remain their primary focus. Whether the selectors see them as part of the long-term plan remains to be seen, but as long as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continue to score and display the camaraderie they displayed in Ranchi, they will be hard to overlook.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
November 30, 2025
