Kuldeep Yadav Saw the 2016-18 Version of Virat Kohli During Ranchi Knock

Kuldeep Yadav noted that the Indian team played with heightened energy and intensity against South Africa, with Virat Kohli in form.

Kuldeep Yadav Saw the 2016-18 Version of Virat Kohli During Ranchi Knock

Kuldeep Yadav was reminded of old days after Virat Kohli's hundred in Ranchi. (via News 18)

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Virat Kohli looked to be in fine touch in the first ODI between India and South Africa, mesmerizing fans with a scintillating hundred. Kohli’s 135-run innings off 120 deliveries on Sunday also left his teammates in awe, with spinner Kuldeep Yadav reminiscing the old days, when Kohli was at his absolute best. 

It has required a struggle for Virat Kohli to remain in form, given he has retired from T20Is and Tests. The three-match ODI tour to Australia in October marked his return to international cricket after seven long months. He endured a tough run in the first two ODIs, getting dismissed for consecutive ducks, raising doubts over his future with the team, until he came back to finish with an unbeaten 74 runs in Sydney. 

Coming to play after a month-long break, Kohli seems to have found form, as he scored an impressive 135 runs off just 120 balls in the first ODI of the ongoing series against South Africa in Ranchi. He batted at a strike-rate of 112.5, hitting 11 boundaries, which included seven maximums. Batting first, India went on to put up a massive first innings total of 349 runs in the end, with Rohit Sharma also contributing with a 57-run knock off 51 balls. KL Rahul added 60 runs, while Ravindra Jadeja scored 32 runs. 

It was Virat Kohli’s ton that took center-stage, as he smashed the ball around the ground. Ace Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav spoke highly about what it meant to witness another classic knock from Kohli. The 30-year-old spinner was reminded of the period between 2016 and 2019, when the former Indian captain dominated bowling attacks, and scored over 10,000 international runs during the time.

Yadav reminisced about how his international career began under Kohli’s leadership, while noting that the 37-year-old’s display against South Africa in Ranchi made him feel like he had stepped eight to nine years back in time. He further highlighted the ace Indian batter’s confidence throughout the innings, pointing to his timed shot selection. Yadav himself picked a crucial four-wicket haul.

My career started with Virat [Kohli] bhai when he was the captain. The way he batted, I felt I had gone back 8-9 years, the way he was batting in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2016. It was a very good innings, and he looked very confident.

Kuldeep Yadav said (H/T: Tribune)

A victory for the Indian team was in fact a hard-fetched one, as the Proteas only finished 17 runs short of the 350-run target. South Africa stayed in the chase with half-centuries from Matthew Breetzke, Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch, and crucial knocks from Tony de Zorzi and Dewald Brevis.

BCCI to intervene as India camp fractures over feud between Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir

All is not well in the Indian ODI dressing room, with a rumored rift between veteran icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), worried about the ongoing situation, is expected to step in and address the issues. 

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma feud with Gautam Gambhir
The BCCI is set to address the reported feud between Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. (via India Today)

The Indian cricket board, as reported earlier, was expected to hold a crucial meeting, attended by head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, over a potential road map for the 2027 ODI World Cup, after the end of the ODI series vs. South Africa. The attendees, also including senior BCCI officials, would also determine Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s futures in the Indian 50-over setup.

However, a new agenda is also set to be included in the meeting’s itinerary, which is a discussion on the rumored rift between Gambhir and the iconic batting duo. It has been reported that Rohit Sharma is not in speaking terms with the Team India head coach and chief selector, since his removal from ODI captaincy. Kohli and Gambhir have also not spoken to each other much.

The BCCI is also reportedly upset with the intense social media trolling aimed at Gambhir since the Test series defeat to South Africa. All of these issues might be addressed in the upcoming meeting in Ahmedabad.

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