New Delhi: The first One Day International (ODI) match of the multi-format series between India and South Africa saw the Men in Blue triumph over the Proteas, thus taking an early lead in the series. The contest, held in Ranchi, was ignited by notable performances from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Batting first after losing the toss, India faced an early setback with the departure of Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, Rohit and Kohli forged a solid partnership, enabling India to post a formidable total of 349 runs in their innings. Rohit scored 57 runs off 51 deliveries, while Kohli contributed significantly with 135 runs from 120 balls. The impressive showings by both players have sparked renewed discussions surrounding their potential inclusion in the squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Sitanshu Kotak, India’s batting coach, commented on the matter, stating, “I don’t know why we need to look at all this – he’s really batting well, and I don’t see any reason we need to talk about his future. Just the way he’s batting, it’s just brilliant. The way he’s performing, [and] his fitness – there are no questions about anything. I feel such things [the 2027 World Cup] shouldn’t even be spoken about after the way he plays and performs. That is something which is two years away. There’s no point talking about all this. For us, once the team arrives and we start practice, we just enjoy.”
Kotak elaborated on the valuable experience that both Rohit and Kohli bring to the Indian side, emphasizing their role in mentoring younger players. He reiterated that the focus remains on performance rather than discussions about the distant World Cup. “Obviously, they do share their experience with others. I don’t think we’re talking anything about the 2027 World Cup. They are just brilliant, and they are performing. They are contributing to the team, which is a great thing for us,” he stated.
