Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan lavished praise on Virat Kohli after the star batter delivered a match-winning century in India’s 17-run triumph over South Africa in the first ODI in Ranchi. Reviewing Kohli’s knock, Pathan highlighted that the innings revealed “two versions” of the former India captain—both equally dominant but strategically different.
Irfan Pathan explained on his YouTube channel, “If you see this innings, you will notice two Virat Kohlis—one an aggressor in the powerplay, and the other after the powerplay when wickets were falling. Then he became an adamant batter who wasn’t ready to give away his wicket.” According to Pathan, only a player of Kohli’s experience, discipline, and unmatched fitness can adapt so seamlessly to contrasting phases of an innings.
With conversations swirling around his ODI future ahead of the 2027 World Cup, Kohli responded most emphatically, smashing his 52nd ODI century—extending his record for the most hundreds in a single format. His majestic 135 off 120 balls, decorated with 11 fours and seven sixes, not only anchored India but also treated the Ranchi crowd to vintage Kohli—full of intent, hunger, and joy.
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However, Pathan pointed out that not all Indian batters made the most of their opportunities. Ruturaj Gaikwad, returning to the ODI setup, managed only 8 off 14, while Washington Sundar, promoted to No. 5, couldn’t convert his start and perished for 13.
On the brighter side, Irfan Pathan expressed immense satisfaction with the form of India’s senior duo. “The way Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are batting, I am really enjoying it. I hope they continue playing as much as possible,” he said.
Rohit Sharma was equally impactful, scoring a fluent 57 off 51 deliveries and breaking the all-time record for most sixes in ODI cricket. His 136-run stand with Kohli laid the foundation for India’s commanding total of 349/8.
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South Africa slipped to 11/3 early, but Jansen, Breetzke, and Bosch staged a fightback. Kuldeep Yadav’s timely strikes halted the momentum, helping India secure a thrilling 17-run victory and take a 1–0 lead in the series.
