Virat Kohli He performed brilliantly in Ranchi, scoring 135 runs in 120 balls with the help of 11 fours and seven sixes and scored his record-extending 52nd ODI century. India 349/8 against South Africa Early in the series. The 37-year-old’s innings is his best since 2025 champions trophySilenced the doubters amid retirement talks and gave India a 1-0 lead with a thrilling 17-run win. coming later Yashasvi JaiswalAfter getting out early, Kohli made an important partnership of 136 runs for the second wicket. Rohit Sharma (57 out of 51), mixing solid defense with explosive strokeplay on a batting-friendly pitch
Gautam Gambhir surprised by Virat Kohli’s record breaking century
captain of south africa aiden markram Opted to bowl first, but India’s batting firepower ruined their attack. KL Rahul Adding 60 runs from 56 to set a tough target. Kohli was eyeing a double century before his fall Nandre BurgerRaised his bat towards the crowd gathered at JSCA stadium. Head coach caught on camera Gautam Gambhir There was a standing ovation from the dressing room, the support staff also joined in. Sitanshu Kotak And morne morkelBefore sharing a warm embrace with Kohli upon his return. The gesture underlined the unity of the team, especially when Kohli went ahead Sachin TendulkarMost ODI century points overall and against South Africa
Gautam Gambhir praised Virat Kohli’s innings.
Great gesture by the coach.#INDvsSA #ViratKohli #GautamGambhir #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/ypDnsC0iZV
– Manvendra Sharma (@Manvendra__17) 30 November 2025
Also read: “I would lie if…”: KL Rahul on India’s win over South Africa in Ranchi ODI
There is coordination between Kohli and Gambhir amid speculations!
Gambhir’s public praise quiets whispers of tension with Kohli, with no visible interactions during the recent nets-Australia ODIS. Reports suggest BCCI officials, Gambhir and selector Ajit Agarkar A meeting can be called in Ahmedabad to decide the future for Kohli and Rohit, which will probably be mandatory. Vijay Hazare Involvement in match preparation towards 2027 world cupGambhir had earlier confirmed a strong personal bond with Kohli, emphasizing maturity beyond on-field rivalries like their IPL clashes,
-Kuldeep Yadavincluding four wickets Matthew Britzke (72) And marco janson (70) sealed the win despite the Proteas’ late lead of 332 runs. Kohli’s resolution after the match-“If I’m getting somewhere, I’ll be at 120%“-highlights his focus on ODIs alone after Test and T20I retirement. This Ranchi masterclass confirms his legacy, fueling India’s campaign with Gambhir’s support in every clap.
Also read: IND vs SA: Virat Kohli shuts down talk of Test retirement U-turn with clear statement
