Star Indian batter Virat Kohli produced a spectacular innings against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday, with his noteworthy 134-run knock to bring up his 52nd international ODI century in spectacular style.
Former Indian players took to the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to express their admiration for one of the best players to grace white-ball cricket.
Vireder Sehwag shared a update that read, “Virat Kohli ne phir dikhaya run banana unke liye utna hi aasaan hai jitna hamare liye chai banana. 52nd ODI century. Kohli is not chasing records, records are chasing Kohli. Aaj bhi bhook wahi, junoon wahi. King stays King !”
Virat Kohli ne phir dikhaya run banana unke liye utna hi aasaan hai jitna hamare liye chai banana. 52nd ODI century.
Kohli is not chasing records, records are chasing Kohli. Aaj bhi bhook wahi, junoon wahi. King stays King ! pic.twitter.com/HhhCAQgj7p
— Virrender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 30, 2025
Mohammad Kaif posted, “Virat kohli has a zidd to prove his critics wrong.. King for a reason” adding “Virat kohli shows old is still good. Shower of sixes to set tempo, holding on as wickets fell and all out aggression after reaching 100. Master class in pacing the ODI innings, lesson for youngsters who struggled towards the end.”
Virat kohli shows old is still good. Shower of sixes to set tempo, holding on as wickets fell and all out aggression after reaching 100. Master class in pacing the ODI innings, lesson for youngsters who struggled towards the end.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 30, 2025
Aakash Chopra said, “Form is Temporary…Kohli is permanent”
Form is Temporary…Kohli is permanent #ODI #ViratKohli #IndvSA
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 30, 2025
Subramaniam Badrinath posted, “If ODI cricket had a dictionary, ‘GOAT’ would simply say: Virat Kohli”
If ODI cricket had a dictionary, ‘GOAT’ would simply say: Virat Kohli 👏
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) November 30, 2025
Irfan Pathan added, “Virat Kohli’s aggression in this innings had a lot to do with the field placement. His message was clear: “You can’t dictate terms with your field. That intent, that statement”
Virat Kohli’s aggression in this innings had a lot to do with the field placement. His message was clear: “You can’t dictate terms with your field.”
That intent, that statement 👌— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 30, 2025
South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal began the innings for the hosts, but Jaiswal was quickly dismissed by Nandre Burger. However, an impressive 136-run partnership for the second wicket was built by Kohli and Rohit. Rohit scored 57 runs off 51 balls before being dismissed by Marco Jansen, while Kohli continued to reach his century.
Ruturaj Gaikwad added 8 runs in 14 deliveries before Ottniel Baartman sent him back to the pavilion. Baartman then dismissed Washington Sundar for 13 off 19 balls, doubling his tally.
KL Rahul joined Kohli, and the wicketkeeper-batsman scored a half-century after Kohli was dismissed for 135 off 120 balls by Burger.
Marco Jansen sent Rahul back to the pavilion for 60 off 56 deliveries, and Corbin Bosch dismissed star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for 32 off 20 balls in the final over of the first innings. Arshdeep Singh was removed for a duck in the penultimate delivery of the Indian innings.
India posted a total score of 349/8, setting a target of 350 runs for the Proteas to win the opening ODI fixture of the five-match series.
