Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli may be nearing the twilight of their international careers, but their star power remains unmatched. The opening ODI against South Africa in Ranchi offered a reminder of why fans still wait eagerly to see them together in India colours. Kohli produced a brilliant 52nd ODI century, while Rohit hammered a fluent 57 off 51 balls, with the pair putting on a century stand that set the tone for India’s win.
As Kohli reached his hundred after Rohit had returned to the dressing room, a clip of the Indian captain celebrating animatedly with Arshdeep Singh quickly went viral. Fans flooded Arshdeep’s inbox demanding to know what Rohit said in that moment; the pacer teased a “reveal” with a humorous twist, keeping the light-hearted buzz alive online.
Beyond the viral moment, Rohit’s innings also crossed a historic milestone. His three sixes against the Proteas pushed him past Shahid Afridi for the most sixes in ODI history, reaching 352 in just 269 innings—accomplishing the feat almost 100 innings faster than the former Pakistan captain. His knock drew praise from South African legend Dale Steyn, who admired Rohit’s ability to read the game, apply pressure, and execute strokes with effortless precision.
Steyn pointed out one moment in particular that stood out: with fielders up on the off-side, Rohit gently guided a delivery past short third man for four, showcasing touch, awareness, and class. Although Rohit fell for 57 to Marco Jansen in the 22nd over, the innings reinforced his ongoing value to India’s ODI setup.
The resurgence of the Rohit-Kohli pairing—after long breaks between ODI appearances—has energized Indian supporters, reminding them of an era defined by two of the game’s modern greats.
