Kohli slammed his 52nd ODI ton in Ranchi against South Africa.
Virat Kohli starred with the bat in India’s 17-run victory over South Africa in the first ODI at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi on Sunday (November 30).
Asked to bat first, the Men in Blue racked up 349/8 in their allotted 50 overs on the back of Kohli’s stunning hundred (135 off 120) and significant contributions from KL Rahul (60 off 56), Rohit Sharma (57 off 51) and Ravindra Jadeja (32 off 20).
In reply, the Proteas got off to a terrible start, losing their top three for just 11 runs inside five overs. However, Matthew Breetzke (72 off 80) and Marco Jansen (70 off 39) brought the visitors back in the contest with vital knocks in the middle order.
Reeling at 228/7 in the 34th over, South Africa were staring at a big defeat but Corbin Bosch scared the hosts with a dazzling innings of 67 in 51 balls. In the end, the Indian bowlers held their nerves to bundle out the tourists for 332 in 49.2 overs.
After earning the Player-of-the-Match award, Kohli attributed his 52nd ODI ton to mental preparation.
“Well, today was really nice to kind of get into the game like that. The pitch played quite decently in the first 20-25 overs before it started to slow down. So, I just felt like, you know, let me just go out there and just hit the ball. Not think too much about any of the other stuff. It's just me and the ball coming at me and just enjoy the game of cricket, which was the very reason I started playing this game. So, it was just about staying in the space of enjoyment and, of course, when you get a start and you get into the situation, then you know what you've done over so many years and the experience kicks in and then you understand the situation and able to build an innings. (how was your preparation?) You know, I've never been a big believer of a lot of preparation, if that makes sense. All my cricket has been mental. As long as I feel mentally I can play the game, I work physically very hard every day of my life. It's got nothing to do with cricket anymore. It's the way I live. So, as long as my fitness levels are up and my mental enjoyment and sharpness is there, when you can visualize the game and you see yourself running as hard, reacting fast on the ball, then you know it's fine. I mean, one of the days when the game opens up and you get a start, you'll be able to score some runs. (the hunger is still there!) Well, as you know, I've said it many times before, if I'm arriving somewhere, I'll arrive 120%. (You arrived early in Ranchi, didn't you?) Yeah, I wanted to get hold of the conditions a little bit. Bat a couple of sessions in the daylight and then one session in the evening and then my prep work was done,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
The Indian talisman also dismissed the rumours about his return to Test cricket, stating that he is just playing one format now.
“I took a day off before the game. I'm 37, so I also need to look after the recovery. But the thing is that, you know, I visualize the game a lot in my mind. And as long as, when I think about the game, when I visualize it, if I see myself being as intense, as sharp, you know, taking the fielders on, taking the bowlers on, then I know I'm in a good space and I kind of can relax and just play out there. (if he is going to play just one form of the game in the future too?) Yes, that's how it's always going to be. I'm just playing one form of the game. (how do you deliver performances like today?) Well, if you, you know, I've played 300-odd ODI games and so much cricket over the last 15-16 years. As I said, if you're in touch with the game and you know that when you're hitting balls at practice, your reflexes are there, your physical ability is there to bat long. If you can bat an hour and a half, two hours in the nets without taking a break, you're kind of meeting all those markers. Yes, I understand if there's a dip in form, you look for games and you try to get that form back. But as long as you're hitting the ball well and you're playing good cricket, I think at this stage with the experience that I have, for me, it's about being physically fit, mentally ready and excited to play the games that I'm playing. And more or less, everything else should take care of itself,” he remarked.
Harshit Rana (3-65) and Kuldeep Yadav (4-68) were pick of the Indian bowlers, sharing seven wickets between them. Arshdeep Singh (2-64) and Prasidh Krishna (1-48 in 7.2 overs) took the remaining three scalps.
The second ODI of the three-match series will take place in Raipur on Wednesday (December 3).