India entered the ODI series having lost 19 consecutive tosses and endured a disappointing Test series. Kohli and Rohit Sharma took on the opposition bowlers before India posted 349. Kohli later explained that meticulous practice is no longer his priority at this stage of his career.
“Today it was a lot of fun coming into the match like that. The pitch played decently for the first 20 to 25 overs before it started to slow down. It was just about staying in the space of enjoyment. Of course, when you start, you get into the situation and you know what needs to be done. The experience starts. I have never believed in preparation. My whole preparation is mental. As long as my physical level is high and the mental acuity is there, then you know that it is. Fine,” he said during the interview after the match.
Took a day off before the match: Virat Kohli
The veteran came in early after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal and hit an immediate boundary from his first ball. He reached a stand of 136 runs with Rohit Sharma, who also set a record for most ODI sixes.
His hundred came off 102 balls, which led to a fan running onto the field and falling at his feet. After reaching his ton, he scored twenty runs from four deliveries against Prenelan Subrayen. His final 135 off 120 balls, peppered with 11 fours and seven sixes, took India close to 350. The Delhi-born man talked about his recovery at this age and opened up about his reflexes.
“I took a day off for the match. I’m 37 and need time to recover. It’s always going to be like that, I’m only playing one form of the game. When you’ve played about 300 matches and that much cricket, when you hit balls in practice, you know the reflexes are there and you know you’re physically capable of batting for long. As long as you’re hitting the ball well and playing good cricket, it’s about being physically fit, mentally ready and excited,” he added.
South Africa lost three wickets, courtesy of Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh, but the Proteas recovered through Matthew Breetzke’s 72, Marco Jansen’s 70 off 39 and Corbin Bosch’s 67. With 18 required for the final over, India kept their nerves in check, with Prasidh Krishna closing out the match to seal a thrilling victory.
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