"Kohli said the field is yours but game is mine" - Ex-Indian cricketer dissects legend's approach against Proteas' tactics in IND vs SA 2025 1st ODI

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan said he was in awe of Virat Kohli's approach against South Africa's tactics in the first ODI in Ranchi on Sunday, November 30. With the tourists putting a short mid-off to restrict the talisman batter's straight drive, Pathan said he was impressed by how well the Indian legend took on the challenge and played an aerial shot.

The incident occurred in the eighth over of the innings, bowled by Nandre Burger. South African captain Aiden Markram brought in a short mid-off since the right-hander had played a few shots in that area. With Burger bowling the ball in the slot, the 37-year-old comfortably drove it in the air over mid-off, clearing the rope.

Speaking in the latest video on his YouTube channel 'Irfan Pathan,' the 41-year-old observed that Burger and Marco Jansen created trouble with the new ball. He opined that Kohli hardly looked back after playing that straight drive for a maximum, elaborating:

"The ball swung in the powerplay overs, Nandre Burger’s pace and Marco Jansen’s bounce troubled the batters. But Virat Kohli looked comfortable right from the outset. When Kohli was batting, he looked in a different zone. I don’t think I have seen this bounce in Ranchi, so he negated that challenge. Since the time he played the straight drive, he didn’t look back."

He added:

"South Africa then created a game plan, they kept Marco Jansen at short mid-off and they asked him to hit there, else to open the face of the bat because left-armers want to take the ball outside the angle and want to see him play through the cover region. That’s why the fielder was there."

Pathan continued:

"But Kohli said, 'The field is yours but game is mine.' He then started playing aerial shots. The last time he hit two sixes in the powerplay was in 2017. But overall, he struck seven sixes and the most he has hit in an innings was 8. He hit the fast bowlers for sixes from the crease and stepped out to the spinners for maximums. The attacking approach was sensational to see. But the highlight of the innings was hitting for a six over point."

The Delhi-born cricketer hammered 135 off 120 deliveries, laced with 11 fours and seven sixes, striking at 112.50. The former Indian captain needed only 47 balls for his half-century and brought up his ton in 102, as the Men in Blue set 350 for the visitors to win. He won the 'Player of the Match' award for his heroics.

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"Virat Kohli told himself he wouldn’t get out after India lost three wickets" - Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan. (Image Credits: Getty)

In the same video, Pathan claimed that fitness and moulding his game according to the situation remain Virat Kohli's hallmark. He reiterated that it was important, particularly in Ranchi, given that India did not bat deep.

"Often bowlers bowl outside off-stump but we’ve seen Kohli pulling off the shot. When he passed fifty, he showed it towards the dressing room and he was happy with that shot. Fitness has always been the highlight and how he changes the strategy. When the situation demanded aggression, he did it so well, batting alongside Rohit Sharma. But Kohli told himself he wouldn’t get out after India lost three wickets," Pathan said.

"India don’t have batting until No.8; hence, the responsibility is on the set batter to play a long innings. There was a phase when Kohli played cautiously, played low-risk cricket and concentrated on singles and doubles. But he has game awareness and calculated the situation extremely well," he added.

The 29-Test veteran pointed out that Kohli's aggression while fielding reminded him of the 'good old Virat Kohli.'

"Kohli also displayed aggression on the field, seemed like the good old Virat Kohli. As far as running between the wickets go, it will remain his biggest strength till the time he keeps playing," he concluded.

Although Matthew Breetzke (72), Jansen (70), and Corbin Bosch (67) struck half-centuries, the Proteas fell 17 runs short of India's total. The second ODI between India and South Africa will take place in Raipur on Wednesday, December 3.