‘Thank you, Gambhir’: Virat fans go berserk as Kohli hits back-to-back ODI centuries against South Africa
Fans revolt, thank Gambhir for ‘releasing’ Kohli
Kohli’s resurgence sparked a lot of reactions online, with many believing that Gambhir had reignited the legendary batsman’s competitiveness.
Also Read: Virat Kohli hits back-to-back tons against South Africa as India bat powerfully in Raipur
“Dear Gambhir, thank you for bringing back that egotistical 2016-17 version of Virat Kohli,” wrote one user.
Another added: “Gautam Gambhir has messed with the wrong guys. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli seem more focused on the 2027 World Cup than any youngster. These two would be my first names on the team sheet.”
Kohli rises to 4th position in ICC ODI rankings
The century in Ranchi also propelled Kohli up the ICC ODI batting rankings. The 37-year-old player rose to 4th place with 751 points, leaving behind Shubman Gill, who dropped to fifth place after missing the South Africa series due to a neck injury. Rohit Sharma ranks first with 783 points, followed by Daryl Mitchell (766) and Ibrahim Zadran (764).
Kohli now has 52 ODI hundreds, further cementing his position as one of the greatest strikers the format has ever seen.
Return to domestic cricket: Kohli confirms Hazare Trophy availability
Delhi and District Cricket Association president Rohan Jaitley told PTI that Kohli has confirmed that he can participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy from December 24. This will be his first appearance in the tournament since 2010.
“It is not clear how many matches he has played but his presence will be a big boost for the dressing room,” Jaitley said. Delhi launched its campaign against Andhra in Bengaluru and was grouped with Gujarat, Saurashtra, Odisha, Services, Railways and Haryana.
Delhi’s matches are scheduled at Alur, Chinnaswamy Stadium and BCCI Center of Excellence venues. However, after the match on June 4, uncertainty continues regarding the matches to be played at Chinnaswamy Stadium. confluence It resulted in 11 deaths during RCB’s celebrations.
Kohli will not feature in the knockout phase if Delhi progress as he is all set to join India’s ODI squad for the New Zealand series in January next year.
Even in domestic cricket it attracts crowds like a magnet
Earlier this year, Kohli’s surprise brace in the Ranji Trophy match attracted a crowd of over 12,000; An extraordinary turnout for a domestic match. The trip was part of his preparation for national duty, but he shocked many by announcing his retirement from Testing ahead of the England tour.
With the BCCI making domestic cricket compulsory for contracted players unless they are injured or on national duty, Kohli’s presence in the campaign in Delhi is expected to draw a significant crowd.
(Inputs from PTI)
