India’s batting maestro Virat Kohli once again demonstrated his unmatched brilliance in the ODI cricket, earning huge praise after smashing his 52nd ODI century in the first ODI against South Africa on Sunday in Ranchi. Kohli produced a masterclass performance, hammering 135 runs off just 120 balls to guide India to a hard-fought 17-run win and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Kohli’s crucial 136-run partnership with veteran opener and former captain Rohit Sharma, who chipped in with a well-made 57, gave India a platform for a big total after opener Yashasvi Jaiswal departed early.
“It was an outstanding knock, obviously. He batted really well, not just in the one-day format but all the formats he has done well,” Kotak said at the press conference.
“This was the 52nd ODI hundred he got, so he’s a thoroughly outstanding player, and he took responsibility, and the way he batted was very good. I think the back is okay, I mean, as much as I know he’s fine
There have been a lot of questions surrounding Kohli's future in ODI format, but Kotak decided to not dwell on the future and rather urged the fans to enjoy Kohli's game.
“I don’t know why we need to look at all this. He’s really batting well. I don’t see any reason we need to talk about his future,” Kohli.
“It’s just the way he’s batting, it’s just brilliant, man. I wouldn’t really. The way he’s performing, the way he maintains his fitness, there is, there are no questions about anything.”