Kohli’s hundred always seemed inevitable: Gavaskar

Batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar offered a detailed breakdown of Virat Kohli’s century in the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur, emphasising that the seasoned batter looked destined for a hundred from the moment he arrived at the crease. Gavaskar said Kohli appeared to be continuing seamlessly from his match-winning effort in Ranchi.

Kohli, who struck a 120-ball 135 in the opening ODI to guide India to victory, carried that momentum into Raipur on Wednesday, bringing up his 84th international century and the 53rd of his ODI career.

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“To be honest, at no point did it look like he wasn’t going to get a hundred. From the first ball he faced, it felt as if he was carrying on from Ranchi. He got off the mark with a hook for six, a shot he doesn’t often play in the air, which showed the confidence from his previous hundred. After that, unless something unfortunate happened, the hundred always seemed inevitable,” Gavaskar said on JioStar.

Kohli was also involved in a massive 195-run third-wicket partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who went on to score his maiden ODI century. Gavaskar noted how the senior batter played a key role in settling Gaikwad after a testing start.

“The partnership with Ruturaj was excellent. Ruturaj’s first ball was a tough bouncer from Jansen, coming right after he had dismissed Jaiswal. He managed to put it away for four, and you could immediately see Kohli go down the pitch to comfort him.

“Ruturaj would’ve been nervous after getting out to a brilliant catch earlier, and whatever Kohli told him clearly lifted him; the next ball he played very confidently off the front foot,” said Gavaskar.

Gaikwad later credited Kohli for guiding him superbly during their stand, calling it a dream to bat alongside the modern-day great. Gavaskar echoed the importance of Kohli’s mentorship through the innings.

“Sometimes, it’s not just about your own runs; it’s about how you help your partner. Their running between the wickets, the communication, it was wonderful to see a senior player guiding a younger one at such an important stage,” Gavaskar added.

Despite the twin centuries from Kohli and Gaikwad, South Africa mounted an impressive chase, producing a composed all-round effort to claim a four-wicket win and level the series 1-1.

Gavaskar also pointed to the toss as a decisive factor, explaining how conditions tilted the game in South Africa’s favour. “It was crucial. Just look at how wet the outfield was. Apart from perhaps the first half-dozen overs, the ball was always going to get wet. That affects not just the bowlers but the fielders too, you can’t get a proper grip.”

“The ball feels like a bar of soap. Even when you try for a strong return to effect a run-out, it slips out of your hand. That’s why if you win the toss in Indian conditions, you always want to bowl first, so you don’t have to deal with a wet ball when defending. So yes, the toss made a big difference,” he concluded.