"It is definitely a talking point" - Former India player's massive remark on Virat Kohli's batting approach in IND vs SA 2025 2nd ODI

Former India cricketer Zaheer Khan remarked that ace batter Virat Kohli's proactive approach with an improved strike rate is a massive indicator of his intention in ODI cricket. The legendary batter recorded his second successive hundred in the second contest of the ongoing series against South Africa in Raipur on Wednesday, December 3.

Virat Kohli had made a massive statement in the series opener in Ranchi after taking down the bowlers from the word go in the first powerplay itself. The star batter employed a similar approach in the second ODI as well, after getting off the mark with a six against Lungi Ngidi.

He struck two boundaries inside his first six deliveries to get going, and kept his strike rate over 100 consistently to finish with a well-compiled 102 runs off 93 deliveries. Having faced 213 deliveries in the series so far, he has a healthy strike rate of 111.26, while his ODI career strike rate reads 93.41. It is also well-above his strike rate of 96.92, as far as home matches are concerned.

Zaheer Khan stated that Kohli's renewed approach at this stage of his career shows that he is ready to adapt and evolve to match the modern-day ODI template.

"That partnership between Ruturaj and Virat was a standout, there is no doubt about that. If you see Virat's strike rate this series, it is definitely a talking point. It is very evident that he is looking to be aggressive from the word go. Today also was pretty much similar, not afraid of taking on the bowlers as early in the innings as possible, which is a great sign for him at this stage," Zaheer Khan said on Cricbuzz.

In the first ODI, he had ramped up his scoring at an astronomical rate after reaching his hundred. However, in the second contest, he perished while attempting to switch gears ahead of the third powerplay in the first innings.

"It is not going to be easy" - Zaheer Khan on the possibility of Virat Kohli reaching 100 hundreds in international cricket

Virat Kohli's 53rd ODI hundred also marked his 83rd in international cricket. Although he is in sight of Sachin Tendulkar's iconic record of 100 international hundreds, toppling that feat is a difficult prospect considering that he is only involved in one format.

Zaheer Khan opined that Virat Kohli might find it difficult to reach the iconic landmark before the 2027 ODI World Cup, but backs him if he decides to play beyond that.

"It is not going to be easy, I would say. I know I am putting my neck out right now, but of you are looking at it, there are 30-35 ODIs. He can play beyond that as well. But if you ask me that if it is possible in 35 ODIs, then you are talking about a hundred ever other innings. If you limit it to just till the World Cup, in 36 innings, and all those things, then it is debatable," Zaheer Khan said.

Team India were once again able to build on the platform set by Virat Kohli to amass 358-5 after 50 overs. The Men in Blue's total of 349-8 in the first ODI proved to be just enough for them to claim a series lead.