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"Felt I had gone back 8-9 years": Kuldeep Yadav captivated by Virat Kohli’s iconic century

Kaushik Kashyap

Kuldeep Yadav on Virat Kohli. [Source - BCCI/x.com]Kuldeep Yadav on Virat Kohli. [Source - BCCI/x.com]

Virat Kohli lit up Ranchi with a masterful 52nd ODI hundred that powered India to a commanding win in the first ODI against South Africa, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. It was vintage Kohli on display, fluent, ruthless and in complete control, leaving the sold-out crowd mesmerized.

Kuldeep Yadav’s heartwarming reaction to Kohli’s hundred

India’s sensational win was defined by Kohli’s brilliance with the bat, and few captured that better than his teammate Kuldeep Yadav. In a video posted by the BCCI on Monday, the left-arm wrist-spinner was full of admiration, describing the iconic innings as a moment where Kohli “turned back the clock” to the peak years of his dominance.

“The way he batted, I felt I had gone back 8-9 years, the way he was batting back in 2017-18-19. It was a very good innings and he looked very confident. Whatever his shot selection was, the ball was coming nicely off the bat,” Kuldeep said.

Kuldeep highlighted how the legend’s confidence, shot selection, discipline and rhythm were very much perfect just like of the Kohli who bossed world cricket over the years. For him, it was not just a great innings, it was a reminder of Kohli’s unmatched class and relentless hunger.

The spinner also mentioned the genuine joy he feels being around Kohli, someone under whom he made his India debut when the former skipper led the side. Kuldeep acknowledged that having someone as experienced and intense as Kohli on the field brings a special energy, something they perhaps missed during the Test series.

“It feels good to be with him, you get to learn a lot. It feels good to be with the seniors. There is always an energy and intensity in the team as you have seen in the field. We are very lucky with it,” Kuldeep added.

As India took a crucial early lead in the series by winning the first ODI by 17 runs, Kohli’s century once again proved why he remains one of the game’s greatest modern-day match-winners. For the fans in Ranchi, for his teammates, and for Indian cricket, it was a reminder that when Kohli finds his groove, the sport feels a little more magical.