India’s star batter Virat Kohli’s majestic century in Ranchi in the first ODI against South Africa once again proved his strength. On a sluggish surface, Kohli smashed 135 runs off 120 balls, which included 11 boundaries and six maximums, at a strike rate of 112.50.
In a video posted by the BCCI’s official handle on X (formerly Twitter), Kohli spoke about his game awareness.
“For me, the core word is awareness — being aware of situations, being aware of your own feelings and thoughts when you succeed and when you fail, so that you try to be in the most central spot,” Kohli explained.
Kohli also reflected on the amount of effort he has put into his game over the years and emphasised how he is striving for success despite having scored a truckload of runs in the 50-over format.
“I have put in a considerable amount of work over the years, so I would say that yes, I am in that place now. I can say that I am still looking to get better every day of my life — that’s where I am,” he added.
Ranchi witnessed Kohli’s 52nd ODI century and the 83rd international century of his career.
In the series opener, India posted a strong total of 349 runs for the loss of eight wickets. Kohli was well supported by former captain Rohit Sharma (57). Together, they added a 136-run partnership for the second wicket. Captain KL Rahul contributed 60 runs, and Ravindra Jadeja added a further 32 at the end. Kuldeep Yadav was the best bowler in the match, taking four crucial wickets. Harshit Rana also impressed with his three-wicket haul, including two early breakthroughs in the Powerplay.
The second ODI will be played on December 3 in Raipur.
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