New Delhi, Dec 1 (NationPress) The iconic Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has praised Virat Kohli for his meticulous and strategic style of play after the star batsman achieved a match-winning century against South Africa in the first ODI held in Ranchi.

Kohli demonstrated his exceptional skills, scoring 135 runs off just 120 balls, marking his 52nd ODI century. This impressive performance led India to a narrow 17-run victory and gave them a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against the Proteas.

Discussing Kohli’s technique and mental strength, Gavaskar remarked that the Indian star excels because he possesses a deep understanding of his own game.

"He is not the kind of player who can simply go bang-bang from the start. While some players can, Kohli is aware that this is not his forte. His true strength lies in his ability to strike the ball through the covers, execute the straight drive, and play the flick shot. Although he occasionally hits a bottom-hand flick for six over square-leg or mid-wicket, he primarily plays in the V. This approach is the safest way to bat, especially on pitches that may keep low or when the ball moves around," Gavaskar noted on JioStar.

He further emphasized Kohli's remarkable running between the wickets, which he considers a key aspect of the former captain’s batting style.

“Running between the wickets is vital; singles are the essence of batting in any format. By continually taking singles, a batsman's innings can flow seamlessly. Even when the audience desires faster scoring, he plays as the team requires," Gavaskar added.

Kohli also had a significant partnership with former captain Rohit Sharma, totaling 136 runs together, marking their 20th partnership of 100 runs or more.

Gavaskar also commended Rohit's innings of 57 runs, during which he broke the record for the most sixes in ODIs by hitting three maximums, surpassing former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi.

"He played exceptionally well. There was one chance for Tony de Zorzi that could have changed the game, but he capitalized on his opportunities afterward. He has a passion for cover drives and flicks, and he knows when to come down the wicket to put bowlers under pressure.

One shot encapsulated his innings for me: with third man and point up, he delicately guided the ball past short third man for four runs, catching everyone by surprise. He was reading the game excellently. He’s a phenomenal batsman. I enjoy watching him, even though I never managed to dismiss him," he remarked.

Importantly, Kohli, in his 306th ODI, and Rohit, in his 277th, have now played a total of 392 international matches together, overtaking the legendary partnership of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who played 391 games together from 1996 to 2012.