Team India started the three-match ODI series against South Africa with a 17-run win at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Sunday, November 30. After the win, many Indian players gathered at the team hotel to celebrate, but top batsman Virat Kohli refused to join his teammates.
Kohli scored his 52nd ODI century in the opening match of the series. He scored 135 runs in 120 balls, while Rohit Sharma contributed 57 runs in 51 balls. The Men in Blue scored a total of 349/8 in 50 overs. Kuldeep Yadav took four wickets, while Harshit Rana took three more wickets, as the visitors were bowled out for 332 runs.
Despite being invited repeatedly, Virat Kohli did not attend the team’s celebration.
KL Rahul, who captained India in the absence of Shubman Gill, celebrated the team’s victory by cutting a cake after the team returned to their hotel in Ranchi. This video went viral on social media platforms.
While many players gathered around Rahul for a small celebration, Virat Kohli did not join in. He walked into the lobby while the cake was being cut, but politely declined repeated requests asking him to attend and instead headed straight for the elevator.
At the same time, Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir were seen standing nearby and engaged in another serious conversation. He had earlier also shared an animated chat in the dressing room.
While the Indian team was celebrating its victory by cutting the cake, Gautam Gambhir was seen talking with Rohit Sharma in the team hotel. pic.twitter.com/iw6ld3PCv4
– 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@Rushiii_12) 1 December 2025
Virat Kohli was chosen player of the match for his excellent batting performance.
When invited to bat first, India scored 349 runs for eight wickets. Virat Kohli scored 135 runs in 120 balls with the help of 11 fours and seven sixes. He showed an aggressive attitude from the beginning. This batsman also left Sachin Tendulkar and David Warner behind in terms of most ODI centuries against South Africa.
South Africa were reduced to 11/3 inside the powerplay. However, the middle-order batsmen struggled against the Indian bowling attack. Matthew Britzke top-scored with 72, while Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch fought hard, scoring fifties. The visiting team was all out for 332 runs in 49.2 overs.
Kuldeep Yadav was the best bowler from India with four wickets. Virat was chosen player of the match for his brilliant innings with the bat.
Gautam Gambhir’s equation with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is weak!
According to a report in Dainik Jagran, Gautam Gambhir’s relationship with senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is not as strong as it used to be, although India’s T20 and Test environment is running smoothly.
Discussions regarding the future of both the senior batsmen could take place during the ODI leg of the series, possibly in Raipur or Visakhapatnam. The report said that the communication gap has increased so much that a formal meeting may be needed.
Jagran quoted a BCCI source as saying, “The relations between Gautam Gambhir and senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are not as good as they should be and there may be a meeting regarding the future of both the players.”
Also read: Virat Kohli indirectly rejects BCCI’s demand to play domestic cricket
