Mohammad Kaif, a former Indian batter, couldn't help but praise Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for their dedication to the game and their willingness to assist future players even if they are no longer captains.

He used the example of two elders teaching inexperienced pacers, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh, during the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi. The hosts won the opening of three ODIs by a mere 17 runs, with two exceptional performances from Kohli and Kuldeep Yadav.

Kohli scored 135 runs in 120 balls, including 11 boundaries and seven sixes, to help India post 349/8 in 50 overs, while Kuldeep Yadav responded with four wickets to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Harshit Rana provided India the best start, bowling Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock in the second over. Then, despite half-centuries by Matthew Breetzke, Marco Jansen, and Corbin Bosch, South Africa fell short by 17 runs in the end.

Mohammad Kaif described how Virat and Rohit were always in the ears of the young speedsters, which helped calm their jitters. He believes that seniors should always be part of the team since they can share their experience with the younger players.

“Harshit Rana bowled on good lengths. He was bowling short, but here he kept his lengths ahead. He made solid use of the new ball. Rohit and Virat were also giving him advice on the field. This is what I am saying: youngsters will do well under seniors, and this has always been the case with Indian cricket.

How many times did we see Virat going and talking to Arshdeep and Prasidh? Rohit was giving inputs too. They want India to win even if they are not leading. They don't care about credit. They spoke a lot to the bowlers, and the results were evident,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, Indian pacers’ inability to take wickets in the middle overs, as Breetzke, Jansen, and Bosch threatened to take the game away, led to Kaif questioning why veteran pacer Mohammad Shami was not included in the Indian squad.

“The question is valid. No matter what kind of pitch it is, a bowler like Shami does not care if it is flat. He has so much class that he finds ways to pick wickets there as well. I don't know why he is still not playing, because Bumrah and Siraj have been rested.

The young pacers would also benefit from his presence. There is no senior pacer to tell the likes of Prasidh, Harshit, and Arshdeep what to do under pressure. India missed this,” he added.

The second ODI between India and South Africa will be played on December 3 in Raipur.