Ranchi, India – Young India batter Tilak Varma has showered praise on veteran teammate Virat Kohli, not only for his remarkable century against South Africa but also for his electrifying presence on the field. Varma's comments came after witnessing Kohli's masterful innings of 135 runs in the first ODI at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Sunday.
Kohli's innings, his 52nd in the 50-over format and 83rd overall in international cricket, laid the foundation for India's victory against the Proteas. Walking in early after the dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kohli dominated the opposition bowlers, smashing 11 fours and seven sixes in his 120-ball innings. He also forged a crucial 136-run partnership with Rohit Sharma.
Varma, who watched Kohli's innings from the sidelines, expressed his admiration in a video shared by bcci.tv. "We've seen one of the best knocks again. I am very happy that I have seen a 100 of Virat bhai live," Varma said. He emphasized Kohli's consistent brilliance over the years, stating, "Since the last 17 years, he has always been electrifying in the field. The batting, fielding, everything. He's absolutely top".
Varma also highlighted the valuable lessons he has learned from Kohli and his eagerness to continue learning from the senior player. "I've learnt a lot, and it's a pleasure to watch him live, and I'll keep talking to him, and as much as I can, I'll learn, and if I get an opportunity in the coming games, I can implement it in the games," he added.
Kohli's impact extends beyond his batting prowess, as noted by Kuldeep Yadav, who debuted under Kohli's captaincy. Yadav recalled how Kohli's batting reminded him of his dominant years and praised his guidance on the field. "My career started with Virat 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," said Yadav. He further added, "It was a very good innings, and he looked very confident. Whatever his shot selection was, the ball was coming nicely off the bat. It feels good to be with him. You get to learn a lot. Even in bowling, you get inputs as to what you can do. It feels good to be with the seniors".
India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate also lauded Kohli's century, acknowledging the team's focus on achieving a premium score.
Varma's praise echoes sentiments from other experts and former players, with Irfan Pathan drawing comparisons between Varma's composed performance in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan and Kohli's renowned chasing abilities. Mohammad Kaif also lauded Varma's consistency and ability to perform under pressure.
As India aims to secure the ODI series against South Africa, the team will look to build on the momentum gained from Kohli's remarkable century and the valuable insights shared by players like Varma and Yadav. The next match is scheduled for Wednesday at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur.
