By Bharath Ramaraj
Two shots in the India–South Africa first ODI, both over mid-off, told everything you need to know about Virat Kohli’s current form. They also showed that at 37, Kohli is batting as well as he ever has in ODIs, and nothing should really stop him from playing the next 50-over World Cup. Once he settled in, there was no doubt he would compile yet another century in his glittering one-day career.
Returning to those two strokes early in his innings, the one off Nandre Burger in particular, it was of the highest class. The experienced batter shuffled across towards off stump and effortlessly smacked it, never losing the shape of his shot. He was also up against a bowler generating appreciable pace and a hint of movement with the new ball.
A few overs later, he skipped down the track, manufactured room, and lofted Ottniel Baartman’s delivery wide of long-off. Once more, he held the shape of the stroke for the cameras.
Rohit Sharma, the other veteran in the side, also contributed with a half-century. More importantly, with those two stalwarts still playing ODIs, a frenzied atmosphere has been created not just inside the JSCA Stadium but outside it as well. In ODI cricket, Kohli and Rohit are essentially the last of the Mohicans.
With so few one-dayers played nowadays, it is difficult to envisage anyone in the future reaching 10,000 runs in this format. It is also hard to imagine ODIs surviving for long outside the World Cups. So, enjoy the batsmanship of Rohit and Kohli while it lasts.
For the record, India finished with a substantial 349 for 8. But the central theme of the innings was Kohli and a bit of Rohit.
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