Ranchi: Virat Kohli once again demonstrated why he remains one of ODI cricket’s greatest performers, smashing a masterful 135 off 120 balls to guide India to a 17-run victory over South Africa in the opening ODI. The innings — his 52nd ODI century — came after an unusually early arrival in Ranchi, where the 37-year-old spent extended hours acclimatising to the pitch and match conditions.
Kohli, who now plays only ODIs for India, said his approach is unchanged: “If I’m arriving somewhere, I arrive at 120%.” The result was a near-flawless display of intent, timing, and match awareness in front of a packed home crowd.
Early Arrival, Intense Prep, and a Vintage Knock
Despite having over 300 ODIs and more than 220 international games in India behind him, Kohli reached Ranchi ahead of schedule to get in multiple sessions — both day and evening — to understand the conditions.
Kohli revealed he also gave himself a recovery day:
I took a day off before the game because I’m 37… I visualise the game a lot in my mind. As long as I see myself being intense and sharp, I know I’m in a good space.”
That mental clarity translated into a dominating performance. Kohli reached:
- 50 off 48 balls
- 100 off 102 balls
- Finished with 7 sixes — only the third time in his ODI career he has hit more than five in an innings.
This was also his second ODI hundred of the year, following the unbeaten 100 against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy in Dubai.
A Crucial Innings as Pitch Slowed Down
Kohli walked in during the 4th over after Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early for 18. With Rohit Sharma and later captain KL Rahul, he steadied the Indian innings before opening up as the pitch began to slow.
The pitch played decently in the first 20–25 overs,” Kohli said. “After that it slowed down. So I just told myself — it’s me and the ball. Enjoy the game.”
His composed acceleration helped India post 349 runs, setting up a challenging total in conditions that became increasingly difficult for stroke-play as the match progressed.
Fitness, Mental Clarity, and Longevity
Kohli emphasised that at this phase of his career, mental preparation is far more important than technical tinkering.
- He no longer believes in heavy practice loads.
- His training is built around overall fitness rather than cricket-specific drills.
- Two-hour net sessions without breaks are his marker of physical readiness.
If you’re hitting the ball well and you’re physically fit, everything else takes care of itself,” he said.
Kohli added that much of his cricket now comes from visualisation, trusting instinct and experience accumulated over nearly two decades.
Another Player-of-the-Match Milestone
This match also gave Kohli his 44th Player-of-the-Match award in ODIs, further cementing his legacy as India’s most consistent big-match performer in the 50-over format.
With India taking a 1–0 lead in the series, his form offers a significant advantage as the team builds momentum toward the next major ICC cycle.
Also Read | Virat Kohli’s gem powers India to 1–0 lead in dramatic ODI opener against South Africa
