Virat Kohli rates Rohit Sharma's ton against South Africa as his best in ODIs

Sharma has the highest individual ODI scores of all time to his name, as well as two further double-hundreds, but he was in a much more restrained mood at the Hampshire Bowl on Wednesday as India set about chasing 228 for victory

It wasn’t particularly brutal and it wasn’t particularly quick but Virat Kohli rated Rohit Sharma’s 23rd one-day international century as the best he’s ever made.

Sharma has the highest individual ODI scores of all time to his name, as well as two further double-hundreds, but he was in a much more restrained mood at the Hampshire Bowl on Wednesday as India set about chasing 228 for victory over South Africa in their first outing of the World Cup.

The opener saw both Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli fall cheaply but made sure the innings did not fall apart, sharing in partnerships of 85 and 74 with KL Rahul and MS Dhoni for the third and fourth wickets to guide his country over the line with two-and-a-half overs to spare.

He reached three figures from 128 balls and finished unbeaten with 122 from 144. Not quite the fireworks he has previously delivered but just as important to his team, as Kohli pointed out.

“In my opinion, this is by far his best ODI innings because of the kind of pressure the first game brings from a World Cup point of you,” the captain said.

^{Rohit Sharma celebrates victory over South Africa}

“As a batsman, when you go in and a few balls bounce like that it’s not easy to play yourself in in a calm manner. He was very composed.

“We expect a lot of maturity and responsibility from someone like him. Of all the brilliant innings I’ve seen him play, this for me was top of the pile. At no stage did we feel like he was going to throw it away.

“He played the perfect innings for that kind of a situation on that kind of a wicket against a bowling attack that was threatening to pick up wickets at any stage.”

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Kohli described his team’s display in Southampton as “very professional”, and indeed it was.

His seamers bowled with pace and incision, especially Jasprit Bumrah whose opening burst of 2-13 in five overs was absolutely mesmerising.

Yuzvendra Chahal then claimed four wickets with his wristspin variations and Kuldeep Yadav caused problems, too. At a ground which has become known for big totals in one-day cricket, this was an exhibition of control and gameplan execution.

“I think it was a very professional effort from us. It was not the highest of total you’ll see in one-day cricket but that’s because of the way the pitch was over the course of the game,” Kohli said.

^{Sharma made an excellent century for India}

“We were very professional in the middle overs, with the spinners picking up five wickets. Overall we’re pretty with how we played. We got together pretty nicely as a team in the first half on the field.”

As for Bumrah, Kohli highlighted how important his spearhead fast bowler will be over this long World Cup campaign.

“He believes that the length ball is something he can nick people off with, whether it’s a flat pitch, whether it’s assisting bowlers or not,” said the skipper.

“The way he is bowling right now is so, so good to see. When you see batsmen literally clueless against him and he’s rushing people.

“He’s working really hard in practice, in the gym, with his diet. He understands this is his time and he’s making the most of it.”

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