Former Indian cricketer turned commentator Dinesh Karthik praised ace batter Virat Kohli’s stunning display in the first ODI against the West Indies at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, September 27 as well. He smashed an unbeaten 139 off 88 deliveries to help India chase down a 296-run target with more than eight overs in hand.

“I think we should really enjoy it till he is around. He told us that he is going to be there until the end of the World Cup. His last batting, so to speak, in international cricket was on July 19th, and now it is September 27. Does it feel like a man who hasn’t touched a bat in 2 months? He just came out there so confident, comfortable, authoritative, and dominating right from the get-go. That has been how he has been batting for some time,” Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

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“Sometimes Virat Kohli has been batting carefully because he knows that if he is around, the team is going to win. But now it almost feels like he is batting in a careful manner, but with a lot more freedom as well. It is a bit oxymoronic what I am saying, but the fact that, even though both are opposite words, he is able to find that balance beautifully,” he further added.

Virat Kohli also showed early signs of being in great rhythm after scoring two boundaries against Alzarri Joseph in the early stages of his innings. He did not turn back since then, smashing nine sixes as well and guiding India to the win.

“To get a hundred at a strike rate of 157 is quite astounding in ODI cricket. I know it was a flat pitch. We were talking about how it could be chased down in 40-42 overs, which is exactly what India did. Most importantly, Virat Kohli is feeling the rhythm. That is the most important word for somebody like Virat Kohli because of how sporadically he is playing, and if he is finding that rhythm, then there is no better player in this world,” Dinesh Karthik concluded.