Virat Kohli, Graeme Smith, South Africa vs India 2018
(Credits: BCCI)

Every time the world thinks it has seen enough from Virat Kohli, the India skipper comes up with even a better display. In the ongoing tour of South Africa, the 29-year old has looked a class apart and the result is there for all to see.

In the Test series where the other batsmen had struggled to even score decently, Kohli finished the series as the highest run-scorer. His 153-run knock in the second Test was the only century in the three-match series. Kohli continued his exquisite form in the recently-concluded ODI series too.

The right-handed batsman had opened the series with a decisive knock of 112 to help India chase down 269 easily. In the following game, he scored 46 not out as the Men in Blue easily chased down 119. The Delhi-born star then continued from where he left off in the 2nd ODI in Centurion with yet another century in the 3rd ODI. Kohli played a monumental knock of 160 to help India win the game. It was followed by knocks of 75 and 36.

The best, however, was yet to come. And it came during the just-concluded sixth and final ODI. Kohli played a stunning inning of 129 to help India crush the Proteas by 8 wickets and win the series 5-1. The India batting mainstay scored 129 not out as India chased down 204 with utmost ease. The knock was studded with 19 fours and a couple of sixes.

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SA vs IND 2018: Michael Vaughan Hails Virat Kohli As Greatest Ever ODI Player
Kohli’s knock came off just 96 balls (Credits: BCCI)

Kohli came out to bat when Rohit Sharma was dismissed cheaply by Lungi Ngidi. From thereon, it was just a one-man show as Kohli took the center-stage. His partners could not even come close to matching his shots as he scored more than half of the runs needed to win the game.

When Shikhar Dhawan was out for 18, Kohli was already batting on 38 off just 29. Ajinkya Rahane also failed to steal the limelight as Kohli continued tormenting the hosts. He reached his fifty off just 36 balls and continued batting in the same manner.

Shots kept on coming every now and then as Kohli went on to score his 35th ODI century in just 82 balls. It was also Kohli’s third century in the series. India reached the target in 33rd over.

And soon as Kohli guided the team to the win, his known admirer Michael Vaughan took to Twitter. The former England skipper hailed the India skipper as the greatest ever ODI player, writing:

“35th… Greatest Ever ODI player … #Fact … @imVkohli #SAvIND”

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