Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik heaped praise on Virat Kohli following his century in the first ODI against South Africa. The match was played on Sunday, November 30, in Ranchi.
After being asked to bat first, India posted 349/8 in their 50 overs, with Virat Kohli registering his 52nd ODI hundred. The 37-year-old scored a superb 135 off 120 balls, hitting 11 fours and seven sixes. In reply, South Africa were bowled out for 332 in 49.2 overs, falling short by 17 runs as India opened the series on a positive note.
In a video shared on his Instagram, Karthik delivered a strong message, stating that Kohli has nothing left to prove to anyone and that his brilliant performance once again showed why he is one of the defining athletes of this generation. Praising the 37-year-old, Karthik said:
“Virat Kohli has nothing, nothing to prove to any of us. I mean what more can you say about a player who has just turned run scoring into an art form. His 83rd international hundred today, 52nd in ODI cricket alone, that’s a record in itself. He broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most number of 100s in a single format. With this 100, he once again shows why he is the defining athlete of this generation.”
“The discipline, the hunger, the unrelenting passion towards fitness and that you could see today. The way he stepped out and played paces, his nimble footwork against spin but most importantly, the way he converted ones into twos and the speed at which he ran, the agility,” he added.
Kohli received the Player of the Match award for his outstanding 135-run knock.
“May he make sure in 2027, he lifts that cup once again” – Dinesh Karthik on Virat Kohli
In the same video, Dinesh Karthik further praised the Indian batter, expressing hope that Virat Kohli will continue to shine and lift the trophy in the 2027 ODI World Cup. He said:
“Every innings that he bats is a lesson, another reminder that we are actually witnessing a once in a generation athlete. Virat Kohli doesn’t chase greatness anymore I feel. He actually sets the standard for what it means to be a legend in this sport. And today he’s just added another chapter to his great legacy and that just continues to keep going. May he soar higher and make sure in 2027, he lifts that cup once again. Good luck.”
The right-handed batter has played 306 ODIs, scoring 14,390 runs at an average of 58.02, including 75 fifties and a record 52 centuries.
Edited by Dev Sharma
