Raipur, Dec 4: India batter Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored his maiden ODI century in the second match against South Africa, said he felt “quite confident” about adapting to the No. 4 position, which he had never played in the 50-over format, adding that he felt privileged to receive such trust from the team management despite being a regular opener.

Gaikwad, who had batted 86 times in List A cricket but never below No. 3, started the series with 8 off 14 balls in Ranchi before scoring 105 off 83 balls at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium.

His innings, which he said was his best across formats and levels, was laced with 12 fours and two sixes, at a strike-rate of 126.51. He reached his fifty off 52 balls, before accelerating in superb fashion to get his first ODI century in just 77 deliveries.

“The team management told me that I would be batting at No. 4 this series. I feel it’s a privilege to have that kind of confidence from the management towards an opener. So I took it that way,” Gaikwad said at the post-match presser.

“In the one-day format, even when I was opening the innings, I always tried to make sure that whenever I was set, I was able to bat till the 45th over and capitalise after that. So I knew somewhat how to play between overs 11 to 40, how to rotate strike, what the boundary options were. So I was pretty much confident about how I could go through the innings.

“It was just a matter of how I could play my first 10-15 balls, and after that, the process remains the same. I have been working really hard, and obviously been in good touch as well. So I wanted to make sure that whenever I am set, I make it a big one,” he added.

Gaikwad also stitched a huge 195-run third-wicket stand with batting stalwart Virat Kohli, who scored his second hundred in as many games and overall his 53rd ODI ton.

Asked about his partnership with Kohli, Gaikwad said it was a moment he dreamed of. “I have been able to witness him since last one week now,” he said. “Whatever practice sessions we have had, he is batting unbelievably well… the amount of time he has and how he is able to convert it in the match as well. And even this game, I enjoyed a lot. Mostly, I was trying to be in my zone and not really think about how he is batting or how he is able to score runs,” he said.

Gaikwad continued, “The chat in between was very clear. We had set 5-5, 10-10-run target and discussed how to manoeuvre the gaps or how to hit those boundaries, how we can rotate strike.

“So the chat was around that. I think we had really good running between the wickets as well. Obviously, you dream of these kinds of moments and to be able to have that kind of partnership, I really enjoyed a lot.”

But Kohli and Gaikwad’s centuries went in vain as a clinical and collective effort from South Africa guided the visitors to a series-levelling four-wicket win in the second in Raipur.

New Delhi, Dec 2: Former South Africa cricketer Dale Steyn believes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s show will continue in the ongoing ODI series ahead of the second ODI on Wednesday in Raipur.

At the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, India overcame a scare and easily defeated South Africa in a closely contested match to win the first ODI by 17 runs and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Speaking on the expectations from the second ODI, JioStar expert Dale Steyn said: “I think the Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma show will continue. I’m eager to see which fast bowlers, and which spinners, come out and do something interesting.”

India put up a commanding first innings total, driven by a brilliant century from Virat Kohli and critical fifties from Rohit Sharma and K.L. Rahul following the early setback as India amassed a mammoth 398/8 in 50 overs. Later in the game, Kuldeep Yadav 4/68 and Harshit Rana 3/65 helped India beat the visitors by 17 runs.

The experienced pair of Rohit and Virat stitched together a fluent 136-run stand, taking the pressure off after the early setback. Rohit reached a brisk 57 off 51 balls and broke Shahid Afridi’s long-standing record for most ODI sixes before Marco Jansen trapped him lbw.

In the meantime, Kohli carried on unhindered, reaching his 83rd international century and 52nd ODI century. He advanced fast after reaching three figures, taking on Prenelan Subrayen with two fours and two sixes.

Rahul offered excellent support with a well-paced 60, adding 76 important runs with Kohli. After Kohli’s removal for 135, Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja pushed India towards a huge finish with a 65-run partnership. But a late mini-collapse that included wickets from Corbin Bosch and Jansen limited India to 349/8.

Steyn emphasised the importance of wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock’s role and expects a big knock from him. “It’s been a batter’s paradise so far, so which bowlers will step up and really perform in the second ODI? Quinton de Kock didn’t score any runs in the first ODI, but I feel like he has a point to prove. He’s someone South Africa will lean on to score big for them.”

New Delhi, Dec 1: Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar has lauded Virat Kohli’s disciplined and calculated approach after the talismanic batter struck a match-winning century against South Africa in the first ODI in Ranchi.

Kohli was at his brilliant best as he blasted 135 from just 120 deliveries, his 52nd ODI century, on Sunday and in the process help India to a 17-run triumph and a 1-0 series lead in the three-game ODI series against the Proteas.

Reflecting on Kohli’s technique and temperament, Gavaskar said the India talisman succeeds because he understands his own game better than anyone else.

“He is the type of batter who can’t go bang-bang straight away. Some batters can, but Kohli knows his game inside out, and he knows that’s not his strength. His strength is striking the ball through the covers, playing the straight drive and the flick. Yes, he’ll occasionally play the bottom-hand flick for six Over square-leg or mid-wicket, but otherwise he plays in the V. That’s the safest way to bat, especially when the pitch may keep low or the ball may move around,” Gavaskar said on JioStar.

He also highlighted Kohli’s exceptional running between the wickets, which he believes remains a defining feature of the former captain’s batting.

“The running between the wickets is crucial, singles are the lifeblood of batting in any format. You keep taking singles and your innings keeps flowing. Even if the crowd wants quicker scoring, he bats as the team needs,” Gavaskar noted.

Kohli also shared a 136-run stand with former skipper Rohit Sharma (57). This was the 20th stand of 100 runs or more between the two.

Former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn lauded Rohit’s 57-run innings, during which he shattered the former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi’s world record for most sixes in ODIs by hitting three maximums.

“He batted beautifully. He gave one opportunity to Tony de Zorzi, could have been a different situation, but he capitalised well after that. He loves those cover drives and flicks, comes down the wicket when he wants to, and puts bowlers under pressure.

One particular shot summed up his innings for me: third man was up, point was up, and he just guided the ball delicately past short third man for four. It caught everyone off guard. He was reading the game superbly. He’s a fantastic batter. I love watching him, even though I never got him out,” Steyn said.

Notably, Kohli, playing his 306th ODI, and Rohit, playing in his 277th one-day international, combined for their 392nd international match together across formats, surpassing the legendary duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who appeared in a whopping 391 games between 1996 and 2012.