Virat Kohli scored his 52nd ODI century during the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi. (PHOTO: AP)After Virat Kohli was named the Player of the Match after India’s 17-run victory over South Africa in the first ODI at Ranchi, the talismanic batter reiterated that he had no plans to reverse his retirement in other formats of the game. This was Kohli’s first game for India in many months since he only plays in the 50-over format for India. Despite that, Kohli’s 135-run knock off 120 balls helped India pile on 349 runs while batting first.
After the game, when Kohli was picking up his player of the match award, Harsha Bhogle asked him: “The physical aspect is never worrisome. You were running twos like you were a young kid. You were stopping balls on the boundary at long on like you were a young kid. The actual playing of the game, you’re now only playing one form of the game. By the way, is that how it’s always going to be?”
To this, Kohli responded: “Yes, that’s how it’s always going to be. I’m just playing one form of the game.”
I had asked him before if he would be comfortable if I slipped that in….. https://t.co/DhXOZNVgYI
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 30, 2025
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While Kohli has been known to be one of the fittest cricketers in the history of the sport and also heralded an age of fitness in the Indian team as captain, Kohli said his focus while playing was more about how he felt about the game mentally rather than physically.
“I’ve never been a big believer of a lot of preparation, if that makes sense. All my cricket has been mental. As long as I feel mentally, I can play the game. I work physically very hard every day of my life. It’s got nothing to do with cricket anymore. It’s the way I live. So as long as my fitness levels are up and my mental enjoyment and sharpness is there, when I can visualize the game and I see myself running as hard, reacting fast on the ball, then I know it’s fine. I mean, one of the days when the game opens up and you get a start, you’ll be able to score some runs,” Kohli said while talking to presenter Harsha Bhogle at the post-match presentation ceremony.
India’s Virat Kohli celebrating his 52nd ODI century during first One-Day International against South Africa in Ranchi. (BCCI)
When Kohli, who now lives in London, was asked about coming a few days early to Ranchi, he said: “I wanted to get hold of the conditions a little bit back. A couple of sessions in the daylight and then one session in the evening and then my prep work was done. I took a day off before the game because I’m 37, so I also need to look after the recovery.The thing is that, you know, I visualize the game a lot in my mind and as long as when I think about the game, when I visualize it, if I see myself being as intense, as sharp, you know, taking the fielders on, taking the bowlers on, then I know I’m in a good space and I kind of can relax and just play out there.”
India’s Virat Kohli plays a shot during the first One Day International match between India and South Africa in Ranchi, India, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo)
Asked about delivering a performance like the one he did at Ranchi despite playing limited cricket these days, Kohli said: “I’ve played 300-odd ODI games and so much cricket over the last 15-16 years. As I said, if you’re in touch with the game and you know that when you’re hitting balls at practice, your reflexes are there, your physical ability is there to back you along. If you can bat an hour and a half or two hours in the nets without taking a break, you’re kind of meeting all those markers.
Kohli continued: “Yes, I understand if there’s a dip in form, you look for games and you try to get that form back. But as long as you’re hitting the ball well and you’re playing good cricket, I think at this stage with the experience that I have, for me, it’s about being physically fit, mentally ready and excited to play the games that I’m playing. And more or less everything else should take care of itself.”
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