"Is baar to gundagardi thi" - Former India opener lauds Virat Kohli's knock in IND vs SA 2025 3rd ODI

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has lauded Virat Kohli for scoring a belligerent half-century in the third ODI against South Africa. He noted that the modern batting great destroyed the South African bowling attack, especially Corbin Bosch.

India bowled South Africa out for 270 in the third ODI in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, December 6. Kohli smashed an unbeaten 65 off 45 deliveries in the chase as the hosts achieved the target with nine wickets and 10.1 overs to spare, clinching the series 2-1.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India batter noted that Kohli was virtually toying with the South African bowlers, with Corbin Bosch being taken to the cleaners, including a no-look six.

"What is Kohli doing? Is baar to gundagardi thi (It was hooliganism this time). Virat, obviously, couldn't have scored a century this time because the runs weren't enough, but how well he batted. The one no-look six he hit, I mean what sort of enmity has he developed with Corbin Bosch? He hit him a lot," he said.

While praising Kohli for his consistency, Chopra added that the ace batter was destructive in the final ODI.

"He has made 50-plus scores in four consecutive matches, and it includes two centuries. He has gotten onto some kind of serious form, and that is such a heartening sight, because when Virat Kohli starts playing like this, there is no other player like him. It was domination, decimation, and destruction. It was explosive batting," he observed.

Virat Kohli struck six fours and three sixes during his unbeaten 65-run knock. He and Yashasvi Jaiswal (116* off 121) stitched together an unbroken 116-run second-wicket partnership after the latter had added 155 runs for the opening wicket with Rohit Sharma (75 off 73).

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"It has been an amazing series for Virat Kohli" - Parthiv Patel on batter's performance in IND vs SA 2025 ODIs

Virat Kohli scored back-to-back centuries in the first two ODIs against South Africa. [P/C: BCCI/X]

Speaking on the Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues,' former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel praised Virat Kohli for performing consistently in the ODI series against South Africa.

"It has been an amazing series for Virat Kohli. He struck two centuries in the first two matches and then an unbeaten knock was seen in the third innings. The way he is batting, it seems like the vintage Virat is back. Obviously, a little struggle was seen in Australia, but he scored a half-century in the third innings," he said.

The Gujarat Titans (GT) assistant coach noted that Indian fans expect a century every time Kohli plays, and expressed hope that the 37-year-old retains his form in the next ODI series against New Zealand.

"After that, he started here from where he left off in that series. From India's perspective, when he plays only one format, people want Virat to score a century in every match, and this was that kind of series. Hopefully, this form will remain when the New Zealand series comes," Parthiv observed.

With 302 runs at an average of 151.00 in three innings, Virat Kohli was the highest run-scorer across both sides in the ODI series between India and South Africa. No other player aggregated 200 runs in the three ODIs, with Matthew Breetzke (164 runs at an average of 54.67 in three innings) being the second best.