Sunil Gavaskar has showered rich praise on Virat Kohli after the batting maestro delivered a vintage, match-winning century in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi. Kohli’s 135 off 120 balls—his record-extending 52nd ODI hundred—powered India to a thrilling 17-run win and gave the hosts an early 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Gavaskar, analysing Kohli’s innings, highlighted how the star batter’s success stems from his deep understanding of his own game. According to the legendary opener, Kohli’s strength lies in knowing exactly when to shift gears and when to rely on his textbook stroke play.

WATCH – Kuldeep, Tilak, and Arshdeep Laud Virat Kohli’s Stunning Knock That Lit Up The ODI Series

“He is not someone who goes bang-bang from ball one. Some players can do that, but Kohli knows that’s not his strength. His real power is in the cover drive, straight drive, and the flick. Yes, once in a while he’ll use the bottom hand to clear mid-wicket, but largely he plays in the ‘V’. That’s the safest and most effective way to bat, especially on pitches where the ball may grip, seam or stay low,” Sunil Gavaskar said on JioStar.

Gavaskar also underlined Kohli’s exceptional running between the wickets, calling it one of the most underrated yet decisive aspects of his game. “Singles are the lifeblood of batting. When you keep rotating strike, your innings keeps moving. Even if the crowd wants big shots, Kohli always plays according to the team’s demands.”

WATCH – Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir’s Animated Chat Sparks Buzz After Ranchi ODI Win

Kohli’s composed knock was complemented brilliantly by Rohit Sharma, who struck a fluent 57. The duo stitched together a 136-run partnership—remarkably their 20th stand of 100-plus runs in ODIs.

In doing so, Kohli and Rohit also surpassed the legendary pairing of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who played together in 391 international matches—one more than the iconic duo managed between 1996 and 2012.