Virat Kohli turned up in Ranchi two days before the rest of the India squad. He wanted to see the surface, feel the lights, and – by his own admission – hit enough balls to know “it’s just me and the ball coming at me”. The extra effort showed. On a slow, fading pitch the 37-year-old compiled 135 from 120 deliveries, steering India to 349 and, eventually, a 17-run victory over South Africa in the first one-day international.
“I’ve said it before if I’m arriving somewhere I’ll arrive at 120%,” Kohli remarked after picking up a 44th Player-of-the-Match award. “[I came early] because I wanted to get hold of the conditions a little bit, bat a couple of sessions in the day and one in the evening, so my prep work was done. I took a day off before the game because I’m 37, I also need to look after the recovery.”
A familiar routine
Senior support staff say the routine has barely changed since his debut – visualise, rehearse, rest, repeat. The difference now is the single-format focus. Since stepping away from T20 internationals two years ago, Kohli’s calendar is lighter, but every outing carries expectation. Assistant coach Vikram Rathour noted, almost casually, that “the work he does away from the TV cameras is still ridiculous”.
India were asked to bat and lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early, nicking Lungi Ngidi for 18. Rohit Sharma’s 42 kept things moving before KL Rahul played anchorman, finishing 71 not out. The stand-out, though, was Kohli. Fifty came in 48 balls; the hundred in 102. He launched seven sixes – only the third time he has cleared the ropes more than five times in an ODI – a statistic that underlined the intent of an innings built on timing rather than brute force.
South Africa’s reply
South Africa threatened through Aiden Markram (84) and David Miller (63), yet Jasprit Bumrah’s late spell – cutters into the surface, a yorker to Miller – closed the door. Mohammed Siraj backed him up; two wickets in successive overs swung the equation decisively. The tourists finished 332 for 8.
Captain Temba Bavuma was philosophical afterwards, praising India’s composure under lights. “We lost it in a five-over burst,” he said, pointing to overs 43-47 where only 22 runs came. Bowling coach Eric Simons felt the target was “gettable, but you can’t leave 11 an over to Bumrah”.
Enjoyment still key
For Kohli, the effort was as much mental as physical. “Today was really nice to get into the game like that,” he explained. “The pitch played quite decently in the first 20-25 overs before it started to slow down. I just felt like let me just go out there and just hit the ball, not think too much about any of the other stuff, it’s just me and the ball coming at me and just enjoy the game of cricket which was the very reason I started playing this game.”
That joy is something teammates say rubs off. Shubman Gill, padded up for the next game in Gqeberha, admitted he studies Kohli’s build-up. “He’s switched on, but also laughing at himself when a shot goes wrong. It keeps the dressing-room light.”
Context of the series
The result hands India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, their first white-ball action since the Champions Trophy win in Dubai. South Africa, rebuilding under new head coach Shukri Conrad, have time to adjust but will know fine margins matter. Their spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, combined for 1 for 113, an area they will revisit with conditions likely to grip again.
Fitness and framing
Kohli’s closing comments offered a neat summary of where he stands. “I visualise the game a lot in my mind, and as long as when I think about the game, if I see myself being as intense, as sharp, taking the fielders and bowlers on, then I know I’m in a good space and I kind of relax and play out there.” It is equal parts process and passion, something he refuses to dilute despite the miles in the legs.
Whether he can keep arriving at “120%” through the rest of the South Africa tour is the next question. Based on Ranchi, few would bet against him.
