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Star cricketer Virat Kohli’s Instagram account was restored after several hours of disappearance, triggering confusion among fans. No official clarification has been issued on whether it was a glitch or intentional.

Virat Kohli’s Instagram account restored after brief disappearance

Star cricketer Virat Kohli&rsquo;s Instagram account was restored after several hours of disappearance, triggering confusion among fans. No official clarification has been issued on whether it was a glitch or intentional.

India&rsquo;s star cricketer Virat Kohli&rsquo;s Instagram account was restored on Friday morning, bringing an end to several hours of confusion and speculation among his 274 million followers.&nbsp;
The cricketer&rsquo;s profile had disappeared overnight without any prior notice, triggering widespread discussion and theories on social media.
As of now, neither Kohli nor his management team has issued any official statement clarifying whether the temporary disappearance was intentional or the result of a technical glitch.
The sudden unavailability of his account led to a wave of reactions from fans, with social media platforms flooded with concerned messages, discussions, and memes. Many followers expressed surprise and worry over the unexpected blackout, while others speculated about possible reasons behind the move.
It was also noted that around the same time, the Instagram account of Kohli&rsquo;s brother, Vikas Kohli, was deactivated. While Virat Kohli&rsquo;s profile was restored by Friday morning, his brother&rsquo;s account remained inactive at the time of writing.
Meanwhile, Kohli continues to remain one of India&rsquo;s most accomplished cricketers. Currently active only in One Day Internationals, he has scored 28,215 international runs for India. Across formats, he maintains an average of 52.73 and has registered 85 international centuries along with 146 fifties.
Kohli is also closing in on several long-standing records held by legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. Recently, he surpassed Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket. He now trails only Tendulkar, who accumulated 34,357 runs at an average of 48.52 across formats.
With 85 international hundreds, Kohli also stands second on the list of players with the most centuries in international cricket, behind Tendulkar, who leads the chart with 100 centuries.

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell tops the ICC ODI rankings after a stellar series in India, surpassing Virat Kohli, with Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran rising to third.

Daryl Mitchell overtakes Virat Kohli to reclaim No. 1 spot in ICC ODI rankings

New Zealand&rsquo;s Daryl Mitchell tops the ICC ODI rankings after a stellar series in India, surpassing Virat Kohli, with Afghanistan&rsquo;s Ibrahim Zadran rising to third.

Indian superstar Virat Kohli was on Wednesday displaced from the top spot by New Zealand swashbuckler Daryl Mitchell in the latest ICC ODI rankings for batters following the latter's stupendous run of form in the just-concluded series.
New Zealand won the series 1-2, their first on Indian soil in the ODI format, to end a 37-year wait.
Mitchell scored two hundreds during the rubber and the 34-year-old also became the fourth-fastest male to nine one-day international hundreds, in just his 54th innings, sitting behind only Imam-ul-Haq (48), Hashim Amla (52) and Quinton de Kock (53).
The Hamilton product is in the form of his life, scoring 352 runs across the three-game series.
His series total was the most ever by a New Zealander in a three-match ODI series and the third-most of all time, behind only Pakistan's Babar Azam (360 against the West Indies in 2016) and India's Shubman Gill (360 against New Zealand in 2023).
"With 845 ranking points, he aptly replaces Kohli (795 points) who drops to No.2 on the list in the latest rankings release. The pair sit well clear of a chasing pack that includes Ibrahim Zadran, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Babar Azam," the ICC said in a statement.
It is the second time Mitchell has held the No.1 ranking in ODI cricket, but his previous spell at the top only lasted three days last November before he was overtaken by Rohit.
Only South African AB de Villiers has more ODI centuries in India against India (five) than Mitchell now does (four).
In 54 innings, Mitchell is yet to record an ODI duck, which is the second-longest all-time streak, behind only Kepler Wessels, who was astonishingly never removed for naught across his 105 ODI innings between 1983 and 1994.
The son of notable rugby coach John, who is currently in charge of England's World Cup-winning women's side, Mitchell toiled for much of his 20s, accumulating over 200 games worth of domestic experience in his homeland.
 Other notable movement
Behind Mitchell and Kohli, Afghanistan's Zadran (third, 764 ranking points) swaps spots with India's Rohit (fourth, 757).
Glenn Phillips and Mitchell combined for a 219-run stand in their series-sealing win in Indore, the second-highest partnership in New Zealand's ODI history.
Phillips blasted 106 runs off 88 balls, seeing him climb 16 places up to 20th.
Phillips also rises 14 spots to equal-31st on the list for ODI all-rounders, which Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai remains at the top of.
New Zealand's Michael Bracewell was the big mover in the ODI bowling rankings, jumping six spots to 33rd after his returns in the first two games of the India series.
The top of the bowling ranks remain unchanged, with Afghanistan star Rashid Khan (710 points) remaining the clear frontrunner ahead of England speedster Jofra Archer (670 points).
Rashid also moved up two spots to second on the latest rankings for T20I bowlers, following his two-wicket haul for Afghanistan in the opening match of their series against the West Indies in Dubai.

BCCI plans to simplify central contracts by removing the A+ category. Senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could move to Grade B under the proposed system.

BCCI may scrap top-tier A+ contracts; Rohit, Kohli likely to be shifted to Grade B

BCCI plans to simplify central contracts by removing the A+ category. Senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could move to Grade B under the proposed system.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly planning to revise its central contract system, with the top-tier Grade A+ category likely to be discontinued.&nbsp;
If the new model is approved, senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to be placed in Grade B, according to sources within the BCCI.
The proposal comes from the selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, which has recommended scrapping the A+ category, currently valued at ₹7 crore per year, and retaining only three categories: A, B, and C. Further details on the monetary adjustments and final approval by the board are expected at the next BCCI apex council meeting.
Under the existing system, BCCI central contracts are annual retainers awarded to Indian cricketers, classified into A+, A, B, and C grades, in addition to match fees. The 2024-25 contracts, announced in April 2025, placed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah in A+. Players including Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and Rishabh Pant were in Grade A, while T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer were in Grade B.
Grade C contracts currently cover players such as Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Rajat Patidar, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Akash Deep, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Harshit Rana.
The selection committee&rsquo;s recommendations aim to simplify the contract structure, though final approval and implementation are pending.

India captain Shubman Gill reflected on the first-ever home bilateral ODI series defeat to New Zealand, highlighting missed batting conversions, fielding lapses, and emerging talent Harshit Rana as a bright spot.

India Faces First Home ODI Series Defeat Against New Zealand

India's Historic Loss to New Zealand in ODI Series

India captain Shubman Gill reflected on the first-ever home bilateral ODI series defeat to New Zealand, highlighting missed batting conversions, fielding lapses, and emerging talent Harshit Rana as a bright spot.

India's first-ever bilateral ODI series defeat at home against New Zealand was not just a statistical jolt but a moment of uncomfortable clarity, and skipper Shubman Gill did not hide behind the margin of defeat or missing personnel.
Speaking after the loss in the series-deciding game in Indore on Sunday, the India captain instead laid bare a pattern that, in his words, "made the difference between the two teams".
"For me, it wasn't that we didn't bat well. It was that we didn't bat long enough. When batsmen are getting starts and they're not able to convert those starts, especially in high-scoring matches, it becomes very difficult. At least two batters need to go on and play that long innings," said Gill after the 41-run defeat at Holkar Stadium. "That was the difference between them and us."
The inability to turn promising starts into match-defining scores haunted India throughout the series, including in Indore where Virat Kohli's century briefly threatened to swing the momentum back.
Gill repeatedly returned to the contrast with New Zealand's approach. "Whenever their batsmen got set, they scored long. That's the difference. Even in the first two matches, I got set, but I wasn't able to convert it into 100, 120 or 130, and that's something we need to get better at as a batting unit."
The conversation then inevitably turned to Ravindra Jadeja, whose returns with both bat and ball have dipped over the last two to three years. Gill was quick to contextualise the all-rounder's struggles rather than isolate them.
"Jaddu bhai was looking in good touch with the bat. But it wasn't just him. I don't think any of our batsmen were able to consistently convert the starts we were getting. On pitches like these, if you don't make those starts count, you&rsquo;re always chasing the game."
Gill also acknowledged that Jadeja's wicket-taking impact &mdash; once a cornerstone of India's ODI dominance &mdash; hasn't been the same recently.
"The way he has been bowling in the past couple of years, he has always been a strike option for us. It's unfortunate he couldn't pick as many wickets as he would have liked, but that happens in series like these. You learn from it and you grow."
India's fielding lapses emerged as another decisive factor, especially as overseas teams continue to narrow the gap in Indian conditions. Gill admitted that missed chances shifted momentum at critical moments.
"We dropped some catches at very important stages of the game. On wickets like these, bowlers are trying to force chances, and when those catches don't stick, it's not easy. No one drops a catch intentionally, but it's one area we really have to improve."
While Rohit Sharma's modest returns across the series &mdash; 61 runs &mdash; drew scrutiny, Gill backed his senior opener's intent and approach.
"He has been in very good form. You won't always be able to convert the starts you get. As a batsman, you always want to make it into hundreds, but that doesn't happen every time. That's impossible. What's important is that the intent and rhythm are there."
 Harshit Rana is a great prospect for future
Amid the disappointment, Gill highlighted a positive that could shape India's future ODI balance &mdash; the rise of Harshit Rana as a lower-order batting option.
"Batting at number eight is a very important position for us. All the top teams in the world bat really deep. We want to give opportunities to players who can strengthen that depth, and Harshit is someone who is constantly improving his batting."
Gill went further, underlining why Rana excites the team management.
"You don't get too many bowlers who can consistently bowl at 140-plus with the height that he has," he said. "And the way he is batting right now, he keeps getting better. In the future, he can be a very good prospect for us."
With the World Cup still some distance away, Gill believes the defeat offers clarity rather than crisis.
"The way we want to play, we haven't been able to do it consistently in this series," he admitted. "But we have time. As long as all the players are aware of what we need to work on, hopefully in the next one or two series we can fix those areas and perform the way we want to."

Virat Kohli’s superb century could not prevent India’s first-ever home ODI series defeat to New Zealand, who sealed a historic 2-1 win with a 41-run victory in Indore.

Kohli hundred not enough as New Zealand clinch series with Indore win

Virat Kohli&rsquo;s superb century could not prevent India&rsquo;s first-ever home ODI series defeat to New Zealand, who sealed a historic 2-1 win with a 41-run victory in Indore.

Virat Kohli&rsquo;s magnificent, combative century, forged with trademark resolve under mounting pressure, proved heartbreakingly insufficient as India slumped to their first-ever bilateral ODI series defeat at home against New Zealand, losing the decider by 41 runs at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday.
Kohli&rsquo;s 124 off 108 balls was a study in controlled aggression and steely temperament. The chase master shouldered the responsibility almost single-handedly, counter-punching a disciplined New Zealand attack with crisp drives, well-judged pulls and calculated risks over the ropes.
As wickets tumbled regularly at the other end, Kohli dug in, refusing to let the chase drift away, but once he fell late in the innings, India&rsquo;s resistance finally collapsed at 296 in 46 overs while chasing a stiff 338.
The defeat not only handed New Zealand a 2-1 series win but also marked a historic first -- India had never before lost a home ODI series to the Kiwis.
It was a sobering evening for the hosts, made more poignant by the fact that one of their finest modern-day batters had delivered a near-perfect response to adversity.
Earlier, Daryl Mitchell's second consecutive hundred and Glenn Phillips' blistering century powered New Zealand to a competitive 337 for eight despite early jolts from India&rsquo;s pace attack.
Mitchell (137) and Phillips (106) stitched together a 219-run partnership for the fourth wicket that turned the innings on its head.
Calm and authoritative, Mitchell anchored the stand while Phillips provided the momentum, allowing New Zealand to shift gears after a cautious start.
India were controlling the innings at one stage, having reduced the visitors to 58 for three but Mitchell and Phillips made it a contest.
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, brought in for Prasidh Krishna, made an immediate impact by removing Henry Nicholls (0) with a beauty in the opening over.
Coming closer to the off-stump, Arshdeep (3/63) shaped the ball away to perfection as Nicholls, caught in two minds, withdrew his bat late and saw the delivery take the inside edge and crash into the leg-stump.
Arshdeep and fellow seamer Harshit Rana (3/84) hit the deck hard and extracted just enough movement to keep the New Zealand batters under check early on.
The visitors managed only 47 runs in the first 10 overs, losing both openers cheaply.
Harshit dismissed Devon Conway (5) for the third straight time, inducing an edge with a back-of-a-length delivery that was safely taken in the slips.
Will Young (30) attempted to break the shackles with a six over deep backward point off Harshit but the bowler had the last laugh.
Harshit broke the 53-run stand between Young and Mitchell when the former cut firmly to the right of Ravindra Jadeja at backward point, where the Indian all-rounder took a comfortable catch.
Mitchell once again set the tone for New Zealand&rsquo;s recovery by taking on Kuldeep Yadav early, launching the left-arm wrist-spinner for a towering six.
In reply, India&rsquo;s chase began shakily.
Rohit Sharma fell early for 11, caught by Kristian Clarke off Zak Foulkes, and Shubman Gill was dismissed for 23 by Kyle Jamieson, leaving India two down inside seven overs.
Kohli immediately set about rebuilding the innings with purpose.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul failed to provide support, departing cheaply as India slipped to 71 for four.
Kohli, however, remained unflustered, rotating strike efficiently and punishing loose deliveries.
His partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy (53 off 57 balls) revived India&rsquo;s hopes, with the duo adding valuable runs through intelligent placement rather than reckless hitting.
Even as required rate climbed, Kohli continued to attack selectively, reaching his century that drew loud applause from the Indore crowd.
Harshit Rana&rsquo;s late cameo of 52 off 43 balls briefly reignited hopes, but the asking rate proved too steep.
Kohli&rsquo;s dismissal at 292 for nine -- caught by Daryl off Kristian Clarke -- sealed India&rsquo;s fate.
As New Zealand celebrated a landmark triumph on Indian soil, Kohli walked off to a standing ovation, his innings a lone beacon on a night of collective disappointment for the hosts.
For the visitors, it was a moment to savour -- a historic series win achieved through composure, power and belief.
For India, it's a reminder that even home dominance can crumble despite individual brilliance.

Virat Kohli regained the top position in ICC Men’s ODI Batters’ rankings after a 93-run innings against New Zealand, marking his 11th time as the No.1 ODI batter.

Virat Kohli returns to No.1 spot in ICC ODI batting rankings

Virat Kohli regained the top position in ICC Men&rsquo;s ODI Batters&rsquo; rankings after a 93-run innings against New Zealand, marking his 11th time as the No.1 ODI batter.

India's star cricketer Virat Kohli has reclaimed the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings for batters, replacing Rohit Sharma, after scoring a brilliant half-century against New Zealand in the first match of the three-game series in Vadodara.
At 37, this marks his return to number one position for the first time since July 2021, while former India skipper Rohit has slipped to third spot.
India defeated the Black Caps by four wickets on Sunday with Kohli scoring a 91-ball 93, which also made him the second-highest run-getter in men's international cricket behind Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli's recent performances in ODIs have been nothing short of phenomenal. He scored an unbeaten 74 against Australia, 135, 102 and 65 not out against the visiting South Africans, and 93 against New Zealand in his last five outings.
Kohli had gained the top ranking for the first time in October 2013, and it is his 11th different spell in the top spot. As of today, he has been at the top for a total of 825 days &ndash; 10th most by any player, and the most by an Indian batter.
India's ODI skipper Shubman Gill has maintained his fifth spot, while Shreyas Iyer is the other Indian batter in the top-10.
New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell has gained a spot following his blazing 84 off 71 in the first ODI, and is just one rating point behind Kohli, who is on 785. Mitchell's teammate Devon Conway climbed three spots to secure the 29th position as he continues to score runs at the top.
India pacer Mohammed Siraj has risen five spots to sit in 15th position along with Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the ODI bowler rankings.
New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson, following a career-best performance of 4 for 41 runs, has jumped 27 places &ndash; moving up to joint 69th position, where he shares the spot with Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh.

India aim to seal the ODI series against New Zealand in Rajkot, led by Virat Kohli’s stellar form, despite injuries to Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant, and Tilak Varma.

Kohli's Form Boosts India, Eyes ODI Series Win Against NZ

Kohli Leads India Amid Challenges in ODI Series

India aim to seal the ODI series against New Zealand in Rajkot, led by Virat Kohli&rsquo;s stellar form, despite injuries to Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant, and Tilak Varma.

Virat Kohli's imperious form has managed to offset mounting injury concerns around some key players and India would hope that the list doesn't get any longer as they close in on sealing the ODI series against New Zealand in the second game in Rajkot on Wednesday.
India made a winning start defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the series opener in Vadodara, but the hosts lost Washington Sundar for the remainder of the series due to a side strain.
The selectors have roped in Delhi's Ayush Badoni but in all likelihood, India would bring in another all-rounder in Nitish Kumar Reddy into the eleven given head coach Gautam Gambhir's preference for multi-skilled players.
On the eve of the first ODI, Rishabh Pant had copped a blow while batting against Indian throw-down staff and was ruled out of the series. His ouster had prompted the selectors to draft in Dhruv Jurel, who can be another option for a specialist batter if the team management decides to go that way.
Despite the available options, India's white-ball set up would not want to see more injuries with the T20 World Cup less than a month away. That squad would feature an entirely different batting line-up from the one in the ODIs.
But some names are common to both sides and an important one, all-rounder Tilak Varma, is out of at least the first three T20Is against the Kiwis due to a groin injury.
However, all of these concerns are for later as the ongoing series continues to be about the two veterans, who have served Indian cricket with distinction. Kohli and Rohit Sharma are clearly enjoying themselves in what is the final leg of a glittering international run.
Kohli narrowly missed his 54th ODI ton in the first ODI but his stroke-filled 91-ball 93 set up India's win even though a mini collapse created a few nervous moments.
However, none of that would worry the think-tank given the chasm between the two sides since New Zealand are also heavily depleted for the ODIs.
Skipper Shubman Gill hit a measured half-century and his deputy Shreyas Iyer missed his by one run in the series opener. But a robust batting show heralded by a dazzling start from Rohit Sharma would keep India assured of going full throttle once again.
For someone who has been batting in the nets with the same intensity as in the game, Kohli is riding high on confidence and performing at a different level. It certainly seems to be a case of him being seemingly free of the burden of expectations and criticism.
There have been additional colours to his batting as neither has Kohli refrained from attacking from the start, nor has he left out any runs out on the park. This is perhaps the reason why he became the fastest to 28,000 runs across formats in Vadodara.
However, India would still like to see a significant improvement in their bowling performance, especially that of spinners, who had to deal with lack of grip and turn in Vadodara.
It was the fast bowlers' improvisation of taking the pace off the ball which resulted in a few breakthroughs in the last game and spinners would hope for better surface support here at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.
Despite the loss in the opening ODI, New Zealand will take a lot of heart in running India close in the first game despite Kohli's exploits.
The equation had remained run-a-ball throughout India's chase of 301 before a three-wicket burst from Kyle Jamieson (4/41) opened up the game. But the Kiwis stuttered with a few late dropped catches and lost the game.
A 117-run opening partnership between southpaws Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls set up the platform which was squandered by the middle-order. But world No.3 Daryl Mitchell's explosive 84 gave New Zealand just about enough runs on the board.
Mitchell Hay and Kristian Clarke's late exploits were another set of positives for the Kiwis, who certainly would hope that rookie leg-spinner Adithya Ashok is better after the experience in Vadodara.
Teams (from): India: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ayush Badoni, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana. New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (c), Devon Conway (wk), Mitchell Hay (wk), Nick Kelly, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Josh Clarkson, Zak Foulkes, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Jayden Lennox, Michael Rae.
Match starts at 1:30 pm.

Virat Kohli becomes the fastest batter to reach 16,000 List A runs, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record during the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Virat Kohli goes past Tendulkar to become fastest to 16000 List A runs

Virat Kohli becomes the fastest batter to reach 16,000 List A runs, breaking Sachin Tendulkar&rsquo;s long-standing record during the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

India batting star Virat Kohli on Wednesday went past the iconic Sachin Tendulkar as the fastest to reach 16,000 runs in List A cricket, achieving the milestone in his 330th innings in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy match in Bengaluru.&nbsp;
Tendulkar had achieved the landmark in 391 innings. The 37-year-old Kohli touched the mark during his team Delhi's opening Vijay Hazare game against Andhra at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.&nbsp;
Kohli now holds the record for being the fastest to each block of 1000 List A runs from 10,000 runs onwards. Kohli is playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy after a gap of 15 years, but the former India skipper has a stellar record in the tournament.&nbsp;
In the premier domestic one-day competition, he has made 819 runs from 13 matches at an average of 68.25 and a strike-rate of 106 with four centuries and three fifties.&nbsp;
Retired from the Test and T20 International formats, Kohli's next India assignment is expected to be the home ODI series against New Zealand beginning January 11.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma headline the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with young stars like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant also in focus as selectors watch domestic performances closely.

Vijay Hazare Trophy: Stars and Emerging Talents Set to Shine

Vijay Hazare: Star Cricketers & Future Prospects

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma headline the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with young stars like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant also in focus as selectors watch domestic performances closely.

The charismatic presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma alongside a host of top India cricketers lends unprecedented gravitas to the Vijay Hazare One-Day Trophy beginning on Wednesday, giving all of them a chance to prove a point amid a renewed focus on domestic grind.
The velvety tapestry of superstars also features Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma among others but none attracts as much attention as Kohli and Rohit.
Their appearance has a direct link to the BCCI's decision of making at least two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches mandatory for India cricketers. But in case of Kohli, who is playing in this tournament after 15 years, and Rohit, it is a sharp reminder that they are no longer immune to the evolving power equations within Indian cricket.
The celebrated pair remain the biggest current stars of the game but that status can't mask the reality that both cricket and time have entered the freeway. They are now the Beatles looking for chart space in the age of Beach Bunny. But watching that gradual unfolding of struggle itself is fascinating.&nbsp;
Can Ro-Ko fire?
Rohit has made it clear that he will play the first two matches of Mumbai against Sikkim and Uttarakhand in Jaipur on December 24 and 26.
Kohli, who has been training with former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar in Mumbai, has not yet decided as to which two or three matches he will play for Delhi.
Delhi will open their Elite Group D campaign against Andhra in Bengaluru, either at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium or at the BCCI Centre of Excellence depending on the decision of the Karnataka state home ministry, following which they will face Gujarat.
Since his arrival in Bengaluru on Tuesday night, assumptions are being made that the star batter will play those two matches. Both Kohli and Rohit still have the power to choose their games, but what they don't seem to have is the power to choose their destiny.
An underwhelming outing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will not have a say in their selection for the ODIs against New Zealand next month, but more than anyone else, Kohli and Rohit would also know that the space around them is shrinking. They know that younger names are breathing down their necks.
How long can they resist the weight of domestic runs scored by a rising star? There are plenty of them too in the likes of Yash Dhull or R Smaran.
The recent omission of Gill from India's T20 World Cup squad and the inclusion of Ishan Kishan on the back of a stellar Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a grim pointer to what might happen with Kohli and Rohit if runs don't flow easily from their bats. If the selectors can drop Gill, the current high-value property in Indian cricket, because of combination compulsions, then not many will be spared.
So, for Kohli and Rohit, this is a battle with themselves to find the inner fire in the modest surroundings of a domestic event, as much as it is against a tight circling younger generation of players.
Gill, Pant eye fruitful outing
Besides the Ro-Ko show, there are several interesting sub-plots to explore. Pant, a Test certainty, will be eager to bring himself back in contention for white ball formats selection. The wicketkeeper batter has not represented the country in either ODIs or T20Is since August 2024.
Gill, on the other hand, will be picking himself up after the selectors' call to overlook him for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The right-hander will be aiming to vent some of that frustration while turning out for Punjab.
For Gill, it will be a good warm-up ahead of next month's three-match ODI series against New Zealand in which he will lead India.
Will young bowling talents emerge?
Another pertinent point could be the interest of selectors in young bowlers in this edition of the tournament, particularly on the pacers. Since Mohammed Siraj came through the Ranji Trophy circuit a few years back, no young talent has been able to produce compelling outings to break into the established Indian pace order.
Even the support line -- consisting of Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana and Akash Deep -- has not been consistent enough. In that context, Gurjapneet Singh (Tamil Nadu), Gurnoor Brar (Punjab), Yudhvir Singh (J&amp;K), Anuj Thakral (Haryana) and Sakib Hussain (Bihar) etc will evoke keen interest from the selectors.
Matches start at 9 am.

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma visited Premanand Ji Maharaj at Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj Ashram in Vrindavan, seeking spiritual guidance and blessings.

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma visit Premanand Ji Maharaj in Vrindavan

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma visited Premanand Ji Maharaj at Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj Ashram in Vrindavan, seeking spiritual guidance and blessings.

Star Indian cricketer Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma visited Premanand Ji Maharaj at his Ashram Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj, Varah Ghat in Vrindavan.&nbsp;
In a video shared by Bhajan Marg's official Instagram handle, Kohli and Sharma were seen engaging in a spiritual conversation (Ekantik Vartalaap) with the Maharaj.
&nbsp;
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During the interaction, Premanand Ji Maharaj advised the couple to treat their work as a service to God. He said, "Apne karyakshetra ko bhagwan ka seva smajhiye. Gambhir bhav se rahiye. Vinamra rahiye. Aur khub naam jap kijiye. (Treat your work as your service to God. Be serious and humble. And pray to the Almighty)."
This marked the couple&rsquo;s third visit to Vrindavan this year. They had returned to India last week from the UK. Earlier, in January, Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, and their children visited Vrindavan to seek the blessings of Premanand Ji Maharaj.
The couple also sought blessings from the spiritual leader a day after Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket in May this year.

Virat Kohli jumps to No. 2 in the latest ICC ODI rankings after a stellar series against South Africa, closing in on Rohit Sharma. Kuldeep Yadav, KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc and others also make major gains across formats.

Virat Kohli Nears ODI Top Spot as ICC Rankings Shift

Virat Kohli's Climb in ICC ODI Rankings

Virat Kohli jumps to No. 2 in the latest ICC ODI rankings after a stellar series against South Africa, closing in on Rohit Sharma. Kuldeep Yadav, KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc and others also make major gains across formats.

India great Virat Kohli&rsquo;s push to regain the top ODI batter spot received a boost as he moved up to the second place in the latest ICC rankings released on Wednesday.
Kohli hasn't held the No.1 position for ODI batters since he was displaced by Pakistan's Babar Azam in April 2021.
But the right-hander is closing in on the top spot following his superb recent efforts for India in the three-match ODI series against South Africa.
The 37-year-old was adjudged Player of the Series for his 302 runs across the three matches and he was duly rewarded on the latest set of rankings as he improved two places to second overall behind teammate Rohit Sharma.
Rohit amassed 146 runs across the series to hold on to his spot at the top of the rankings, with Kohli closing to within eight rating points on the back of his unbeaten innings of 65 not out in the series finale in Visakhapatnam.
It helped India clinch the three-match series 2-1.
India ODI skipper Shubman Gill retained his fifth spot despite missing the three-match series while stand-in skipper KL Rahul rose two places to 12th overall after making two fifties in the rubber.
Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav moved up three spots to third in the bowlers' chart.
South Africa trio of Quinton de Kock (up three rungs to 13th), Aiden Markram (up four places to 25th) and Temba Bavuma (up three spots to 37th) also made gains on the rankings for ODI batters.
In the T20I rankings, the trio of Axar Patel (up two spots to 13th), Arshdeep Singh (up three places to 20th) and Jasprit Bumrah (up six rungs to 25th) made gains, following their comprehensive 101-run victory in Cuttack.
All of them had a good outing in the first T20I, taking two wickets apiece as India bowled out the Proteas for 74, their lowest-ever total in the shortest format.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who recently scored his maiden ODI hundred against SA in Visakhapatnam, remained the top ranked Indian batter in the Test rankings at number eight while Gill and Rishabh Pant have moved a step each to 11th and 13th respectively.
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has made a big jump on the latest rankings for Test bowlers led by Jasprit Bumrah.
The left-armer moved up three spots to third overall on the back of consecutive Player of the Match performances during the first two Ashes Tests against England.
Starc has 18 wickets from the two contests and finds himself moving to a new career-high rating and a best-ever ranking of third as a result.
The Indian trio of Mohammad Siraj (12th), Ravindra Jadeja (13th) and Kuldeep (14th) have all climbed up a spot.
England's lack of runs Down Under sees Harry Brook drop two places to fourth overall on the list for Test batters, with Kane Williamson (second) and Steve Smith (third) each gaining one spot behind Joe Root, who made a hundred in the Brisbane Test, at the top.

Virat Kohli’s 53rd ODI century and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s maiden ton went in vain as South Africa sealed a four-wicket win in Raipur, chasing 359 to level the series 1-1.

Kohli, Gaikwad hundreds in vain as South Africa chase 359 to level ODI series

Virat Kohli&rsquo;s 53rd ODI century and Ruturaj Gaikwad&rsquo;s maiden ton went in vain as South Africa sealed a four-wicket win in Raipur, chasing 359 to level the series 1-1.

Virat Kohli&rsquo;s 53rd ODI ton and Ruturaj Gaikwad&rsquo;s maiden century were eclipsed by a collective effort from South Africa in a steep run chase, giving the visitors a series levelling four wicket-win in the second ODI against India in Raipur on Wednesday.
Chasing 359, South Africa rode on a brilliant century from Aiden Markram (110), a brutal 34-ball 54 (1x4s, 5x6s) from Dewald Brevis and Matthew Breetzke's 68 to get over the line in another resilient effort with the bat.
The series-deciding third and final ODI will be played in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
India&rsquo;s job was far from done even after putting a daunting total on board as heavy dew in the second half not only made spinners&rsquo; job tougher, but poor returns from Prasidh Krishna (2/79) did not help their cause.
Prasidh, who had broken a second-wicket century partnership earlier by dismissing Temba Bavuma (46), got it right finally to pin Breetzke leg-before late in the game, and soon after, Arshdeep Singh (2/54) removed the dangerous Marco Jansen (2), but Corbin Bosch (29 not out off 15) and Keshav Maharaj (10 not out off 14) took the Proteas over the line with four balls to spare.
Markram was in his elements utilising a flat deck under lights to notch up his maiden century against India and providing South Africa a heavy contribution from the top to push on.
He took the initiative in the opening partnership and even though he lost Quinton de Kock (8) early with Arshdeep drawing first blood, Markram found a stable partner in Bavuma to put on 101 for the second wicket.
Markram had to remain the aggressor as Bavuma farmed the strike from the other end. Markram pierced gaps at will with brute force as well as some artistry.
He also hit through the line and over the bowlers&rsquo; head to clear the ropes while using the feet well against Indian spinners, with heavy dew making their job even more difficult as the innings progressed.
But the opener also had luck favouring him when a powerful hit off Kuldeep Yadav towards long on saw the ball going through Yashasvi Jaiswal&rsquo;s hands for a six.
Had the catch been taken, Markram&rsquo;s charge would&rsquo;ve ended on 53.
Markram eventually fell off a short off-cutter from Harshit Rana (1/70) but his dismissal had Brevis and Breetzke teaming up, who waltzed to 92 off the next 64 balls to put South Africa in complete control.
While Brevis fell after his quick fifty which featured some massive sixes , Breetzke made a composed 68 for a second consecutive half-century.
Incidentally, it was only the second occasion where India lost an ODI despite scoring in excess of 350, with the first instance being against Australia in March 2019 when they lost by a similar margin of four wickets despite making 358/9 at Mohali.
Earlier, Kohli&rsquo;s successive hundred, maiden century from Gaikwad (105) and KL Rahul&rsquo;s quickfire 66 not out propelled India to a formidable 358 for five.
Kohli (102 off 93 balls, 7x4s, 2x6s) and Gaikwad (105 off 83 balls, 12x4s, 2x6s) reset the record for highest third-wicket stand for India in ODIs against South Africa as their 195-run association built the platform for the hosts to launch themselves into a big score.
And Rahul&rsquo;s (66 not out off 43 balls, 6x4s, 2x6s) second fifty in a row ensured that, even as India continued to tinker with their batting line-up with the stand-in skipper coming in at No 5 ahead of Washington Sundar, who endured another failure.
Unlike at Ranchi where he did not look accustomed to batting in the middle order, Gaikwad emerged a perfect foil for Kohli as the two began racking up runs with ease.
With Ajinkya Rahane in tow, Kohli had put on 189 at Durban in February 2018 but perhaps on some counts, this partnership with Gaikwad was the one he may have enjoyed a little more as the Maharashtra batter matched his style of play.
The rotation of strike was deft, the singles were seamlessly converted into doubles and at times it was difficult for one to distinguish who had pierced the gap for those runs &mdash; not necessarily boundaries &mdash; as Gaikwad even appeared to be matching Kohli in terms of stroke-play.
If he was roughed up at the start, Gaikwad grew in confidence to post a fine half-century. Once past the milestone, he picked up pace.
Off the blocks with a perfect pull shot which sent the ball sailing over the ropes, it was yet another day in the office for Kohli who did not put a foot wrong on way to a record extending 53rd ODI ton.

Virat Kohli climbed to No. 4 in the ICC ODI rankings following his match-winning hundred against South Africa, while shifts were also seen in Test and T20I rankings for several Indian players.

Virat Kohli Climbs to No. 4 in Latest ICC ODI Rankings

Virat Kohli Rises in ICC ODI Rankings to No. 4

Virat Kohli climbed to No. 4 in the ICC ODI rankings following his match-winning hundred against South Africa, while shifts were also seen in Test and T20I rankings for several Indian players.

Star Indian batter Virat Kohli on Wednesday moved up to No. 4 in the latest ICC rankings with a match-winning hundred against South Africa in the first ODI at Ranchi boosting his ascend.&nbsp;
Kohli made his 52nd hundred in the 50-over format, a 120-ball 135 that propelled India to a 17-run win over the Proteas on Sunday.&nbsp;
The 37-year-old now has 751 ranking points, and trails former India skipper Rohit Sharma (783), who retained his top spot, New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell (766) and Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran (764).&nbsp;
Kohli overtook India ODI captain Shubman Gill, who moved down to No. 5 after missing the ongoing three-match series against South Africa with a neck injury.&nbsp;
Shreyas Iyer, who is also recovering from an injury that he sustained during India's recent white ball tour to Australia, stood firm on 9th position.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav gained one place to move to sixth after picking up four wickets in the first match against the Proteas.&nbsp;
In the Test batter's list, India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal continued to station at No. 9, while Gill slid one place down to 12.&nbsp;
Wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant was also on a downward spiral, moving down from 12th to 14th.&nbsp;
In the rankings for Test bowlers, India's premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah remained on top of the pile with 879 points, well clear of New Zealand pacer Matt Henry (846).&nbsp;
However, modest outings in the two-match series against SA recently affected the rankings of pacer Mohammed Siraj (from 11th to 13th) and Kuldeep (from 13th to 15th). In the T20I list, Indians dominated the top slot with Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy keeping their numero uno positions.&nbsp;

Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli will play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi starting December 24, marking his first appearance in the tournament since 2010, while continuing international ODI duties against South Africa and New Zealand.

Virat Kohli confirms his availability for Vijay Hazare Trophy

Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli will play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi starting December 24, marking his first appearance in the tournament since 2010, while continuing international ODI duties against South Africa and New Zealand.

Indian superstar Virat Kohli on Tuesday confirmed his availability to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy beginning on December 24, DDCA president Rohan Jaitley told PTI.&nbsp;
Kohli, now a one-format player, is currently busy with the ODI series against South Africa. Kohli is returning to the Hazare Trophy for the first time since appearing against Services in February 2010.
The 37-year-old racked up his 52nd ODI hundred in the series opener at Ranchi, showing he remains sharp as ever despite playing just one version of the game. Kohli retired from Tests earlier this year, while his last T20 International coincided with India's triumph in the 2024 World Cup in Barbados.
"He has confirmed his availability to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. How many games he will feature in, that is not clear yet. Obviously, him being around will be a massive boost to the Delhi dressing room," Jaitley told PTI.
Delhi open their Vijay Hazare campaign against Andhra in Bengaluru on December 24. In total, they will play six games. Delhi are placed in Group D along with Andhra, Gujarat, Saurashtra, Odisha, Services, Railways and Haryana.
The league matches are currently scheduled to be played at Alur, a venue on the outskirts of Bengaluru, M Chinnaswamy Stadium and the BCCI Centre of Excellence grounds, close to the airport. Though the Chinnaswamy Stadium is listed, it&rsquo;s not clear whether any matches will be held there because top-level cricket has not returned to the venue after the June 4 stampede in which 11 fans were killed as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru celebrations went awry.
The knockout matches, including the final, are scheduled to be played in the BCCI CoE grounds. However, Kohli will not be part of the knockouts should Delhi reach that far as he is set to play in India&rsquo;s three-match ODI series against New Zealand between January 11 and 18, 2026. Fans are expected to turn up in numbers to watch the action at the ground when Kohli is around.
Earlier this year, Kohli made a grand spectacle of an otherwise drab Ranji Trophy game when he played his first first-class match in more than 12 years. More than 12000 people came to watch Kohli play, numbers unheard of for a domestic fixture in a long while. He returned to Ranji Trophy as part of preparation for international duty but in a surprise decision, he announced his retirement from Test cricket ahead of the England tour.
BCCI has made playing domestic cricket mandatory for contracted cricketers unless they are injured or on national duty. Rohit Sharma, who too retired from Tests ahead of the England tour, is expected to play for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Both Kohli and Rohit were amongst the runs in the series opener against Proteas in Ranchi. They played their first international game in months during the tour of Australia last month.
After failing to score a run in the first two games Down Under, Kohli got into the groove with a half-century in the third and final ODI. Rohit had smashed a hundred in the same game held in Sydney.

India will rely on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to clinch the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur, after a 17-run win at Ranchi. Team combinations, unfamiliar pitch, and South Africa’s comeback potential remain key talking points.

India rely on Kohli-Rohit pair to seal ODI series victory against doughty South Africa

India will rely on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to clinch the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur, after a 17-run win at Ranchi. Team combinations, unfamiliar pitch, and South Africa&rsquo;s comeback potential remain key talking points.

The chatter around the volatile dressing room environment notwithstanding, India will rely on Virat Kohli's imperious form and Rohit Sharma's indomitable presence to seal a series victory over a doughty South Africa in the second ODI, in Raipur on Wednesday.
A record-extending 52nd ODI century by Kohli and a rapid 57 from Rohit paved the way for India's 17-run win in the series-opener at Ranchi, where the home bowlers endured a spirited fightback from the Proteas before managing to stop them.
With the 2027 ODI World Cup two years away, Kohli and Rohit are not only auditioning every match to prove their fitness and form but are also reportedly managing growing differences with head coach Gautam Gambhir. The issue has dominated the off-field talk and is expected to have the BCCI stepping in at some point.
Having set up two consecutive victories for India in last as many ODIs -- including a nine-wicket hammering of Australia at Sydney in October -- Kohli and Rohit have shown they will everything possible to be on that flight to the World Cup in South Africa.
Both the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and Gambhir have remained non-committal about their participation in the World Cup and that has probably been at the centre of the simmering tensions between the two sides.
However, India have a lot more to worry about despite the opening win. For starters, the combination does not seem perfectly aligned. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has built an impressive record in List A cricket, was pushed from opening to No 4. He did not look completely conditioned for the role, with stand-in captain KL Rahul staunchly defending his position at No 6.
Washington Sundar is not new to such experiments as the Tamil Nadu all-rounder, who batted at No 3 in Kolkata Test against the Proteas, has seen plenty of changes in his batting positions. But in the first ODI at No 5, he too was among the batters dismissed in a phase where India slowed down. And again for an all-rounder, Washington also had another light day in terms of bowling as he sent down only three overs for 18 runs.
To his credit, Harshit Rana did a lot of good to his reputation with two wickets upfront with the new ball but his knack of giving away runs later on will require the all-rounder to bring in more control, especially when only one ball is allowed to play with after the 34th over.
In their bid to restore balance between bat and ball, the ICC's new rule allows only one ball from the existing two to be continued with from 34-50 overs. Kuldeep Yadav snaffled key wickets for a match haul of 4/68 and even though he was a shade expensive, his variation proved to be the difference as South Africa fell short but then, not by a big margin.
South Africa will indeed take a lot of heart in their inspired comeback after being reduced to 11/3 at one stage. On a flat deck, Marco Jansen tore into the Indian bowlers once again for a minute-a-mile half-century (off 26 balls), scoring a strokeful 70 off 39 balls.
Matthew Breetzke notched up a fine 72 in his first ODI against India to lead a comeback for South Africa while their long tail, which includes the dangerous Corbin Bosch, threatened to take the game away from India.
South Africa played in the first ODI without their regular skipper Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj, who both were rested after their historic Test series win. But the Proteas are expected to bolster their squad with their return.
Like Guwahati where the hosts were not too accustomed with the pitch and conditions, the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in the Chhattisgarh capital is also relatively unfamiliar.
In the only ODI played here at this venue, India made light work of New Zealand in January 2023 when Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj exploited sharp seam movement off the pitch to bowl the Kiwis out for a mere 108. The hosts completed an eight-wicket win with nearly 30 overs to spare.
Even the only T20I played here in December 2023, against Australia, was also not a high-scoring affair which India won by 20 runs after putting on 174/9. 
Teams (from): India: KL Rahul (c&amp;wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann (wk), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Prenelan Subrayen, Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
Match starts at 1:30pm IST.

Virat Kohli’s superb 135 powered India to a 17-run win over South Africa in the Ranchi ODI, supported by crucial spells from Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh as India claimed a 1-0 series lead.

Vintage Kohli reasserts ODI class; India nose ahead in series with win in Ranchi

Virat Kohli&rsquo;s superb 135 powered India to a 17-run win over South Africa in the Ranchi ODI, supported by crucial spells from Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh as India claimed a 1-0 series lead.

Virat Kohli reaffirmed his enduring value to India's ODI setup with a perfectly paced century that shaped his team's 17-run victory over South Africa in the series-opener, in Ranchi on Sunday.
On a flat JSCA surface, Kohli (135 off 120 balls) controlled the tempo of the innings from the moment he walked in, anchoring India's imposing 349 for eight with an effort that blended classical stroke-play with calculated acceleration.
The value of Kohli's 52nd ODI ton became even clearer during South Africa&rsquo;s chase, which disintegrated at the beginning under sustained Indian pressure.
With Harshit Rana's (3/54) triple strike and support from pacer Arshdeep Singh (2/64) and left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav (4/68), India always got wickets whenever Proteas threatened to get away and finally ended on 332.
Courtesy Marco Jansen's counter-attacking 70 and Matthew Breetzke's composed 72, South Africa kept their fans interested but India had no trouble whatsoever in wrapping up the contest for a 1-0 lead in three-match series.
Kuldeep's twin strike in the 34th over actually became decisive after a breezy 97-run stand between Breetzke and Jansen as the wily left-arm wrist spinner removed both within a space of three deliveries.
Dew was also a factor in South Africa getting some easy runs as Indian bowlers struggled to grip the ball under lights.
Nine down, South Africa needed 18 off the last over and Prasidh Krishna ensured the hosts do not suffer a heartbreak after all the hard work by dismissing Corbin Bosch (67) with the second delivery.
Earlier Kohli's commanding knock came off 120 balls with seven sixes and 11 fours.
His 136-run stand with Rohit Sharma (57 off 51) for the second wicket set up India's big total on a JSCA shirtfront.
With Kohli no longer part of T20Is, and no ODIs scheduled for India after New Zealand series in January, every outing in the format now comes with significance.
The 36-year-old responded with trademark authority, reminding the selectors and team management that he remains India's most bankable batter in the format.
Rohit too had a great platform to assert himself after being dropped at 1 but he could make only 57 before being trapped by Jansen.
Still, their 136-run partnership -- during a much-anticipated 'Ro-Ko' show -- would give confidence not to the two stalwarts but also the team management that they still belong to big stage and can serve India a bit more.
South Africa's top order crumbled under sustained Indian pressure as Rana's incisive new-ball burst left the visitors reeling in their chase.
Rana dismissed both Ryan Rickelton (0) and Quinton de Kock (0) in the space of three balls.
Captain Aiden Markram&rsquo;s brief resistance ended on 7 when he edged Arshdeep, leaving the Proteas tottering at 11 for 3 in the fifth over.
Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi (39 off 35) attempted to rebuild with a 66-run stand, but Kuldeep broke the partnership just as de Zorzi looked set, trapping him lbw to make it 77 for 4.
Dewald Brevis (37 off 28) injected some momentum with three sixes, but Rana returned to claim his third wicket, ending the youngster&rsquo;s charge at 130 for 5 in the 22nd over, effectively snuffing out any realistic hopes of a contest.
The RoKo show
It was a flat deck but the Proteas bowlers were also guilty of not bowling a probing line and length.
Kohli walked in early after Yashasvi Jaiswal's 18 ended via a faint edge off Nandre Burger, and the Ranchi crowd immediately anticipated a reunion worth waiting for.
Rohit survived a sitter, spilled by Tony de Zorzi at mid-wicket, and used the reprieve to settle before opening up with a string of boundaries against Jansen and Corbin Bosch.
He hit Jansen for two boundaries in a space of five balls and Bosch was also taken to task: his incoming deliveries were flicked with ease and the short ones were pulled with authority.
Kohli, meanwhile, was in vintage touch -- a six over mid-off off Burger showing the full bat face, signalled his intent as well as touch. It was followed by a silken cover drive.
With South Africa's pacers erring in both line and length, the pair motored along, forcing stand-in captain Aiden Markram to introduce off-spinner Pranelan Subrayen, but the runs kept flowing.
Kohli raised his half-century with a six off Bosch, while Rohit reached his fifty with a single as India crossed the 100-run mark in quick time.
Jansen finally struck back by trapping Rohit leg before.
The dismissal briefly stalled India's scoring as Kohli went through a phase of limited strike.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (8) and Washington Sundar, promoted to No. 5, fell in quick succession to Ottneil Baartman, arresting the early charge.
But Kohli held firm.
Rotating strike smartly and putting away the loose balls, he ensured India did not drift.
Soon after he completed his hundred, a manic fan breached security, knelt before his 'King', touched his feet before being whisked away by security officers.
What was remarkable was Kohli's ability to change the gears even when the ball had gone soft.
Now only one ball of the two can be used after 34 overs, making the stroke-making challenging.
When skipper KL Rahul (60) was struggling to go hard at spinner Subrayen, Kohli creamed him off for 21 runs with consummate ease with two sixes and a four.
The 2027 World Cup is still some time away but Kohli reminded one and all that his touch is intact and hunger insatiable as ever.

Virat Kohli highlights the importance of mental readiness over intense preparation after scoring a match-winning century against South Africa, stressing visualisation, fitness, and joy for the game at this stage of his career.

Never believed in over-preparation, all my game has been mental: Kohli

Virat Kohli highlights the importance of mental readiness over intense preparation after scoring a match-winning century against South Africa, stressing visualisation, fitness, and joy for the game at this stage of his career.

For Virat Kohli, the mental aspect of batsmanship &mdash; visualising game situations, feeling intense and sharp at the same time &mdash; holds more value than over-preparation which has never been his philosophy.
Returning to international action after a gap of a month, Kohli smashed his 52nd ODI and 83rd international century during the first match against South Africa, a classic 135 off 120 balls.
"I have never been a believer of a lot of preparation. All my cricket has been mental. I work physically very hard, as long as my fitness levels are up and I am feeling well, it's good," said Kohli, in his own inimitable way, making clear what he feels about all those who are skeptical about his lack of match time.
Maybe not in as many words but if one reads between the lines of Kohli's statement, it is not difficult to understand what he feels about playing in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, which the national selection committee wants him to do.
"I've played 300-odd ODI games and so much cricket, if you're in touch with the game and are able to hit balls in the practice, if you bat for an hour or two in the nets, you know you're good.
"If you're out of form, you want to play more in the nets. Other than that, it's about being mentally ready and enjoying the game," he said.
For this series, Kohli had arrived a couple of days earlier in Ranchi and had a few sessions before the other squad members assembled.
&ldquo;I wanted to get hold of the conditions in Ranchi. I visualise the game a lot, when I think about the game, if I see myself being intense and sharp, I know I can relax and play out there. I am 37, so, I also need to take care of my body," Kohli added.
At this stage of his career, it is important for him to retain the pure joy of playing and remember why he started playing the sport.
"Today was really nice to get into the game like that. Pitch played decently for 20-25 overs before slowing down. I just wanted to play the ball and enjoy the game of cricket.
&ldquo;It was about being in a space of enjoyment. And when you get a start, then the experience kicks in and you're able to build an innings,&rdquo; he added.

MS Dhoni hosted Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and other Indian players for a warm dinner gathering in Ranchi, creating a relaxed atmosphere ahead of the South Africa ODI series as senior stars returned to training and regrouped after a tough Test outing.

Dhoni hosts Kohli for special Ranchi dinner, then drives him back to hotel; video goes viral

MS Dhoni hosted Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and other Indian players for a warm dinner gathering in Ranchi, creating a relaxed atmosphere ahead of the South Africa ODI series as senior stars returned to training and regrouped after a tough Test outing.

Ranchi turned into a hub of excitement on Thursday night as former India captain MS Dhoni hosted Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant for a special dinner at his residence.&nbsp;
The intimate gathering became the most talked-about moment ahead of India&rsquo;s ODI series against South Africa, with visuals dominating social media within minutes.
Kohli, who flew in from London a day earlier, drove to Dhoni&rsquo;s home in the evening along with Pant.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Reunion of the year? 🥺<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvSA</a> 1st ODI | SUN, 30 NOV, 12:30 PM <a href="https://t.co/wu2qSTn30i">pic.twitter.com/wu2qSTn30i</a>
&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1994097630440509765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The two spent several hours at the veteran&rsquo;s residence, enjoying what insiders described as a warm, relaxed get-together&mdash;something that has now become a tradition whenever India plays in Ranchi.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Rishabh Pant at MS Dhoni house <a href="https://t.co/L9Qh33rvMA">pic.twitter.com/L9Qh33rvMA</a>
&mdash; Yash MSdian &trade;️ 🦁 (@itzyash07) <a href="https://twitter.com/itzyash07/status/1994079726294454586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Fans later captured Dhoni himself behind the wheel, dropping Kohli back to the team hotel, a gesture that fuelled nostalgia and reminded many of their long-standing bond.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BEST PICTURE ON THE INTERNET TODAY. &hearts;️ - Virat Kohli &amp; MS Dhoni riding together in a same car at Ranchi. <a href="https://t.co/ubW8mKxPuU">pic.twitter.com/ubW8mKxPuU</a>
&mdash; Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImTanujSingh/status/1994133943797600746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Videos showed Dhoni&rsquo;s house bustling with arrivals, not just from Kohli and Pant but also from Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who joined the informal gathering.&nbsp;
The dinner created a calm and comforting environment for players coming off a tough Test series loss, offering a quiet moment of camaraderie before shifting focus to the ODIs.
A Familiar Ranchi Ritual
Whenever India travels to Ranchi, players visiting Dhoni&rsquo;s home for dinner has become an unspoken ritual. The former skipper, though retired, continues to command immense affection within the team. Younger cricketers like Gaikwad and Tilak Varma often look forward to these evenings, seeing them as an opportunity to bond, share experiences, and ease into the pressure of an upcoming series.
Thursday's dinner was no different. With the ODI squad gathering in the city, Dhoni&rsquo;s hospitality set the tone for the team&rsquo;s reset phase. For Pant, coming off a difficult Test series, and Kohli, returning to ODIs after mixed form against Australia, the evening provided a much-needed breather.
Players Begin Training; Leaders Return
Earlier in the day, Kohli and Rohit Sharma were seen practising in the nets along with Tilak Varma and Gaikwad. This South Africa series marks the return of both senior batters to ODI cricket. India will also be without Shubman Gill, ruled out due to injury, leaving Pant and Gaikwad with greater responsibilities in the middle and top order respectively.
Pant Seeks Fresh Start; Kohli Eyes Momentum
Pant, who apologised to fans during the Test series saying the team &ldquo;didn&rsquo;t play good enough cricket,&rdquo; now gets a fresh chance at redemption in the ODI format &mdash; his first since August 2024. Kohli, meanwhile, will look to build on his match-winning fifty in the last ODI against Australia after back-to-back ducks earlier in the series.
India&rsquo;s ODI Squad
Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (C) (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel

On 19 November, Indian cricket remembers the 2023 World Cup final heartbreak against Australia, celebrating the team’s unity, grit, and unforgettable moments despite the loss.

19 November: India remembers 2023 World Cup final loss against Australia

On 19 November, Indian cricket remembers the 2023 World Cup final heartbreak against Australia, celebrating the team&rsquo;s unity, grit, and unforgettable moments despite the loss.

Two years!
19 November - a date Indian cricket will never forget. A date that still feels heavy in the chest.
The 2023 World Cup was not just a tournament. It was a dream. A journey that felt blessed, destined, written in the stars. India won every match. Every game felt like a festival.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6a7a6fc4d_1763535482.jpg" width="553" height="308">&nbsp; Rohit&rsquo;s fearless starts, Kohli&rsquo;s elegance, Shami&rsquo;s magic, the unity, the joy, the belief. It felt like the entire country was breathing in one rhythm.
But dreams have their own destiny. And on that evening in Ahmedabad, the dream paused.
Australia won the toss and chose to field first. India managed a total of 240 - decent, but not exactly a match-winning score. Yet, in the hearts of every fan, the dream of lifting the trophy was already alive.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6b498d6ba_1763535689.jpg" width="554" height="309">
India&rsquo;s bowlers started well, and for a while, it seemed like the target was defendable. Hope was high everywhere!
But Australia had other ideas. After a shaky start and the loss of early wickets, it still felt like the trophy could slip from their grasp.
Then Travis Head walked in and completely changed the game with his century. Unstoppable, precise, and ruthless, he punished every loose ball and steadily turned the chase into a nightmare for India.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6bf417068_1763535860.jpg" width="553" height="308"> With every run he scored, the dream of victory slipped further away, leaving millions of Indian fans in silent heartbreak.
When the final ended, it wasn&rsquo;t just a loss. It was a stunning silence!
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6c9f8a982_1763536031.jpg" width="555" height="309">
A silence that 1.4 billion people felt.
Rohit Sharma, the captain who redefined intent.
Virat Kohli, the batter who carried an entire nation&rsquo;s expectations with unmatched grace.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6d406232a_1763536192.jpg" width="553" height="308">
Seeing them emotional&hellip; it broke something inside every fan. You could feel their pain through the screen - not as players, but as humans who gave everything.
And then came Jatin Sapru's voice&hellip; trembling, honest, unforgettable: &ldquo;Woh kaptaan&hellip; woh ballebaaz&hellip;&rdquo;
Those words still echo. They weren't commentary - they were emotion. They captured the ache millions were feeling but couldn&rsquo;t express.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6d94cdb15_1763536276.jpg" width="553" height="308">
And like many of us, when &ldquo;Khada Hun Aaj Bhi Wahi&rdquo; plays even today, those moments flash back - the lights of the stadium, the tricolour in every corner, the tears, the pride, the heartbreak.
Because the pain wasn&rsquo;t just about losing a match&hellip;It was about losing that team's fairytale ending.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6ea4241bd_1763536548.jpg" width="553" height="308">
From that night on, Travis Head became a name that haunted Indian cricket fans. Not just for the runs he scored, but for the heartbreak he delivered.
Every time he came to the crease in the following months and years, millions of fans couldn&rsquo;t help but remember that final, the day he snatched a dream that felt so close.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d6f37563b1_1763536695.jpg" width="552" height="307">
He became a reminder of what almost was, a player etched into Indian cricket memory for all the wrong reasons, but impossible to forget.
But with pain came something beautiful.
The 2023 World Cup reminded India what unity felt like.
What it meant to support a team not because they were winning&hellip; but because they made us believe.
It reminded us how cricket is woven into our memories, our families, our festivals, our childhoods.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d7108bf00b_1763537160.jpg" width="553" height="308">
Two years later, the hurt remains - yes.
But so does the pride. So does the gratitude.
So does the love for a team that gave us a month we will remember for the rest of our lives.
Rohit. Kohli. Shami. Bumrah. Jadeja. Siraj. Rahul. Gill - every single one of them.
They didn&rsquo;t just play cricket. They gave us moments that will stay with us forever.
However, the story didn&rsquo;t end in heartbreak. In 2024, India lifted the T20 World Cup, showing the world their resilience and fire. In 2025, they went on to win the Champions Trophy, followed by the Asia Cup 2025, a remarkable run that reminded fans that even after heartbreak, this team always bounces back.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d718804904_1763537288.jpg" width="555" height="309">
These victories became a testament to their spirit, their talent, and the unbreakable bond they share with millions of fans who stood by them through every high and low.
Today, 19 November, is not just an anniversary of heartbreak. It is a reminder of how deeply this team touched us. How deeply cricket lives in our hearts.
And how sometimes, even without the trophy, a team becomes immortal.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/691d7063a69f0_1763536995.jpg" width="551" height="307">
Two years later, India still stands by that team&hellip;
&ldquo;Khade hain aaj bhi wahin.&rdquo;
With the same love.
The same pride.
The same heartbeat.

Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli turns 37, marking a career spanning record-breaking performances in Tests, ODIs, T20Is, ICC events, and the IPL, cementing his place among the greatest in modern cricket.

Virat Kohli turns 37: A career of records, milestones, and cricketing excellence

Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli turns 37, marking a career spanning record-breaking performances in Tests, ODIs, T20Is, ICC events, and the IPL, cementing his place among the greatest in modern cricket.

India&rsquo;s cricketing legend and one of modern cricket&rsquo;s most celebrated icons, Virat Kohli, turned 37 on Wednesday.&nbsp;
Since his debut on the international stage in 2008 as a chubby-faced teenager from West Delhi, Kohli has reached heights in world cricket that few have managed, amassing a mix of personal and team milestones that could leave many of his contemporaries envious.&nbsp;
From leading India to a U19 World Cup title in Kuala Lumpur as a youngster, it was evident that Virat was cut from a different cloth&mdash;distinct even from his seniors Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly.&nbsp;
While he mirrored Sachin&rsquo;s consistency and technique and channeled Ganguly&rsquo;s on-field aggression, he transformed these qualities into a larger vision, shaping India&rsquo;s next generation of cricket alongside MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.
A Test Ambassador: Record-Breaking Highs and Lows
In Test cricket, Virat played 123 matches, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries, 31 fifties, and a highest score of 254*.
He retired as India&rsquo;s fourth-highest run-scorer in Tests. His prime from 2016 to 2019 was extraordinary, producing 4,208 runs in 43 matches at an average of 66.79, including 16 centuries, 10 fifties, and seven double hundreds&mdash;the most by any captain in Test history.
Although he faced a dip in form in the 2020s, scoring only three more centuries and averaging around 30 before retiring this year, his influence on Test cricket extended beyond numbers. Virat helped revive interest in the format, turning five-day contests between elite teams into thrilling spectacles.
As India&rsquo;s captain, he recorded 40 wins, 17 losses, and 11 draws in 68 Tests, including seven victories in South Africa, England, and New Zealand (SENA) countries&mdash;the most by any Indian captain&mdash;and remains the only Indian skipper to win a Test series in Australia (2019).&nbsp;
Under his leadership, he scored 5,864 runs at an average of 54.80, including 20 centuries and 18 fifties, establishing India&rsquo;s dominance at home and fostering a generation of elite fast bowlers such as Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, and Umesh Yadav.
His focus on fitness, including the Yo-Yo Test, set new standards for Indian cricket. India also held the number one Test ranking for 43 months under his captaincy, from October 2016 to May 2020.
An ODI Titan: The Master of Chases
In One-Day Internationals, Virat Kohli has arguably been India&rsquo;s greatest batter, scoring 14,255 runs in 305 matches at an average of 57.71, with 51 centuries, 75 fifties, and a best score of 183. He is the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history. Known as a &lsquo;Chasemaster,&rsquo; he dominates run-chases with 6,072 runs in 108 matches at an astonishing average of 89.29, including 24 centuries and 27 fifties in 102 innings.
Virat also holds records as the fastest to 8,000 through 14,000 ODI runs. His trophy cabinet includes the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 and 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, with crucial performances in knockout matches. He ranks second in all-time World Cup runs, with 1,795 from 37 games at an average of 59.83, including five centuries and 12 fifties.
In the 2023 World Cup, Virat delivered a career-defining campaign, scoring 765 runs in 11 matches at an average over 95, including three centuries and six fifties. His 117 in the semifinals against New Zealand marked his 50th ODI century, making him the first to reach this milestone, earning him the 'Player of the Tournament' award even as India finished runners-up.
A Consistent T20I Performer
Virat&rsquo;s T20I record is equally impressive: 4,188 runs in 125 matches at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate above 137, including one century and 38 fifties. In successful run-chases, he has scored 1,651 runs in 42 matches at an extraordinary average of 78.61, with 16 fifties, often leading iconic chases from Mohali to Melbourne.
He was the star in India&rsquo;s 2024 T20 World Cup win, scoring 76 in the final against South Africa, and has earned two T20 World Cup 'Player of the Tournament' awards. He is also the most decorated batter in T20 World Cups, amassing 1,292 runs in 35 matches at an average of 58.72, including 15 fifties. His record in successful chase innings is staggering: 519 runs in 12 matches at an average of 173, with eight unbeaten scores. Even in death overs, his strike rate of over 198 remains exceptional.
An ICC Event Giant
Virat has conquered ICC events with a 50-over and T20 World Cup and two Champions Trophies. He is the only player with three 'Player of the Tournament' awards in ICC events. Across these tournaments, he has scored 3,834 runs in 90 matches at an average of 61.33, including six centuries and 33 fifties. In knockout matches, including World Test Championship finals, he has over 1,000 runs in 22 matches, averaging over 51, with one century and nine fifties.
The IPL Icon
In the Indian Premier League, Virat has been synonymous with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) since 2008. After 18 years with the franchise, he finally won an IPL title this year.
With 8,661 runs in 267 matches at an average of 39.54, including eight centuries and 63 fifties, he is the top run-scorer and century-maker in IPL history.
His peak came in 2016, scoring 973 runs in 16 matches at an average of 81.40 with a strike rate above 152, including four centuries and seven fifties, winning the Orange Cap. He claimed the Orange Cap again last year with 741 runs in 15 matches, averaging 61.75 with a century and five fifties.

virat kohli

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