Team India players heaped praise on Virat Kohli after his century helped India seal a 17-run win over South Africa in the first ODI in Ranchi. Kohli scored 135 off 120 balls, his 52nd ODI hundred, giving India a strong start to the series. Several teammates described what it was like to watch another big innings from the former captain.Tilak Varma said it was special to see Kohli reach a hundred from close range.
Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and other members of Team India leave Ranchi after the first ODI
“We have seen one of the best batsmen again. I am very happy to see Virat bhai’s 100 live,” Tilak said in a video released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).“He’s always been electrifying in the field, batting, fielding, everything. He’s absolutely top notch. I’ve learned a lot and it’s a pleasure to watch him live. I’ll keep talking to him and learn what I can. If I get a chance in the upcoming matches, I can implement that in those matches as well,” he said.Kuldeep Yadav, who started his career when Kohli was captain, said the innings reminded him of Kohli’s strong years.“My career started with Virat bhai when he was the captain. The way he was batting, I felt like I went back 8-9 years, the way he was batting in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2016,” Kuldeep said.“It was a very good innings and he looked very confident. Whatever his stroke selection was, the ball was coming off the bat nicely. It’s nice to be with him. You can learn a lot. Even in bowling, you get cues about what you can do. It’s good to be with the seniors. There’s energy and intensity in the team. As you’ve seen on the field, we’re very lucky,” he said.Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said India wanted a strong first innings total on a pitch expected to get easier later on.“It’s nice to get back to winning ways. It was very pleasing when the boys realized we needed a premium score on that wicket,” he said.“We knew the dew was coming and the way the batsmen went about it and of course Virat, a big 100 in a row. To get us out of the blocks, to finish to get a score that was above what you normally need on a wicket like that was good,” he said.Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said discussions about Kohli’s ODI future were unnecessary.“I really don’t know why we have to look at all this,” Kotak said after India’s 17-run win.“He is batting so well. Why do we need to talk about his future? The way he is playing, how is his fitness – there are no questions about anything,” Kotak said.In the match, South Africa put India into bat. Yashasvi Jaiswal made 18 before getting out. Rohit Sharma (57 off 51) and Kohli added 136 for the second wicket. India quickly lost Rohit, Ruturaj Gaikwad (8) and Washington Sundar (13) to reach 200/4, but other stands kept the innings going. KL Rahul made 60, shared a 76-run stand with Kohli and later added 65 with Ravindra Jadeja (32 off 20). India finished with 349/8.In the chase, South Africa fell to 11/3 after the first wickets of the Indian fast bowlers. Tony de Zorzi (39 off 37) and Matthew Breetzke added 66 and Dewald Brevis scored 37 off 28 but South Africa were still five down on 130. Breetzke (72 off 80) and Marco Jansen (80 off 39) then put on 97 to keep the contest alive before Kuldeep dismissed them both. South Africa were 227/8 and later pulled through again through Corbin Bosch who made 67 off 51 but fell short by 17 runs. Harshit Rana finished with 3/65.India now lead the three-match ODI series 1-0.
