The first ODI in Ranchi began with an unexpected scene — Virat Kohli dancing and joking around on the boundary, sending his teammates into bursts of laughter. Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant couldn’t help but enjoy the moment and the crowd joined in too. It was a rare glimpse of Virat Kohli completely relaxed before stepping into a format where every innings now holds extra weight for him.
Here is the video clip which has gone viral:
https://x.com/rushiii_12/status/1995124141930991847
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With Virat Kohli no longer part of India’s T20I plans and only a handful of ODIs lined up in the coming months, his appearances in this format have taken on deeper meaning. And once he walked out to bat, the fun got replaced by the intensity and control that have defined his career. He delivered his 83rd international century, guiding India to a strong total and silencing any whispers about his relevance in the ODI setup. It was the kind of authoritative knock that once again reminded everyone — from fans to selectors — that he remains India’s most reliable batter.
Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, had his own moment of fortune when he was dropped on one. He made good use of the chance, settling in quickly and sending boundaries flying off the blades of Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch. His innings ended at 57 but not before he joined Virat Kohli in a vital 136-run partnership that formed the heart of India’s innings and restored the confidence surrounding their long-standing pairing.
The pitch offered little help to the bowlers and South Africa did not help their cause by straying in line and length. Virat Kohli entered early after Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for 18 due to a faint edge off Nandre Burger, setting the stage for what felt like a long-awaited reunion between him and the Ranchi crowd.
What began with laughter on the ropes ended with a match-shaping masterclass — proof that Virat Kohli’s spark, both playful and fierce, is still very much alive.
