Virat Kohli blasts ton, Rohit Sharma breaks sixes record as Test comeback rumours dispelled
Virat Kohli notched a record-extending 52nd one-day international century and Rohit Sharma broke Shahid Afridi’s sixes record in the 50-over format as India beat South Africa on Sunday night (AEDT).
Kohli then dispelled rumours that he could be set to make a Test comeback at the age of 37, as did the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Just over a month after the one-two punch Kohli and Sharma inflicted on Australia in an ODI at the SCG, the Indian greats again wound back time in a partnership of 136 runs in Ranchi to lay the foundation for a 17-run win in the first of three ODIs.
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Kohli struck 135 runs from 120 balls, including 11 fours and seven sixes, in a masterful knock at first drop.
The legendary right-hander brought up his century by guiding a Marco Jansen ball for four through third man, before leaping high in the air, pumping a fist and screaming with delight.
Virat Kohli celebrates his 52nd ODI century. AP
Kohli now holds the record for most centuries in a single format, with his ODI ton in Ranchi taking him past the 51 hundreds made by Sachin Tendulkar in Test cricket.
Sharma, meanwhile, clobbered 57 from 51 deliveries at the top of the order, including five fours and three sixes.
The 38-year-old hit two consecutive sixes over midwicket off the bowling of off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen in the 15th over to draw level with Afridi on 351 ODI sixes, before pulling Jansen over square leg to pinch the record from the former Pakistan livewire.
And while Afridi hit 351 sixes from 369 innings, Sharma surpassed him in only 269 knocks.
Indian captain KL Rahul also made a notable contribution in Ranchi, chiming in with 60 off 56 balls as India posted 8-349.
South Africa got off to a horrible start in its chase, losing both Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock for ducks to find itself reeling at 3-11 in the fifth over.
But Matthew Breetzke (72 runs), Tony de Zorzi (39), Dewald Brevis (37), Jansen (70) and Corbin Bosch (67) ensured the visitors would not go down without a mighty fight.
India eventually bowled out South Africa for 332 in the 50th over of the visitors’ innings to close out the 17-run win.
Rumours that the BCCI may ask Kohli to come out of Test retirement have been running rampant, and widely reported in Indian media, but the veteran was emphatic when asked by commentator Harsha Bhogle if he was only playing one form of cricket now.
“Yes, and that’s how it’s always going to be,” Kohli said. “I’m just playing one form of the game.”
Virat Kohli (left) and Rohit Sharma during their partnership of 136 runs. AP
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also dismissed the rumours.
“What’s being said about Virat Kohli is just a rumour,” Saikia told Indian media.
“There has been no conversation with Kohli about this. Do not give weight to rumours. Nothing of that sort has happened.”
Kohli announced his Test retirement in May, bringing down the curtain on a career that yielded 9230 runs at 46.85, and 30 centuries, from 123 matches.
It’s also been rumoured that the BCCI was set to enquire with Sharma about a potential Test comeback but the Kohli whispers have been louder given the legendary career he carved out in the longest and purest form of the game.
English great Kevin Pietersen fuelled talk of Kohli and Sharma potentially returning to Test cricket.
“I don’t always believe what I read in the media or on social media. But, if it’s half true that both Virat and Rohit are considering playing Test cricket again, then it needs to be taken very very seriously,” Pietersen wrote on X prior to Kohli addressing the whispers.
“The survival of Test cricket is a hot topic of conversation and if the biggest stars in the game are wanting to play it again, they must play!”
The second match of the three-game ODI series between India and South Africa will be played in Raipur on Wednesday night (AEDT).
