"Will not be surprised if he scores another hundred" - Former India batter’s big statement on Virat Kohli ahead of IND vs SA 2025 3rd ODI

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif made a big statement on Virat Kohli ahead of the third ODI against South Africa. The game will be played on Saturday, December 6, in Visakhapatnam.

Virat Kohli has been in blistering form, having scored consecutive hundreds in the first two matches. He scored a 120-ball 135 in the first game and a 93-ball 102 in the second. Kaif stated that he would not be surprised if Kohli scored another hundred in the third ODI. He reckoned that the star batter is very fit and at his best. Moreover, with the series tied 1-1 and the third game being a decider, he backed Kohli to perform well under pressure.

"If India have to win then Kohli has to score. His biggest strength is continuous form. There was a time where he could not score no matter what he did. But overall, once he gets hold of form, he repeats those scores. I will not be surprised if he scores another hundred. He is very fit. Many players after scoring two hundreds and fielding for 50 overs would be tired by the time they come to the third game. But this is not the case with Virat. He will play even better under pressure. It is a decider and the stage is set for him. He is in solid form. He is at his best. When he is at his best, be it any match, he does well," he said on his YouTube channel.

Further, Kaif also reflected that Virat Kohli would have the burning desire to prove that the team needed him to score to win games. The former batter expressed that Kohli has been focusing completely on his batting.

"Given the stage where he is at, I am sure he will also want to show people that India will win only if he scores. He will want to answer that the team depends on him and will win when he scores. He is very focused on his batting now," he added.

The hundred in the previous game was his 53rd in ODIs and 84th across all three formats combined.

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Virat Kohli will want to prove it to the management, believes Mohammad Kaif

Mohammad Kaif also felt that Virat Kohli would want to prove it to the management after constant question marks on his pace for the 2027 World Cup. His spot is not guaranteed, and he has been under pressure to prove himself in every game.

"I am sure he has it in his heart to prove it to the management because even after having done so much, there is a question about his place for the World Cup. He is showing it to them. I am sure it is in his mind. I saw in the last game, where it got tight, he was standing. Usually, he always runs and comes to give advice in such situations. I think he is focusing only on batting because they are judging him for it," Kaif said.

Batting first, India made 358 runs in the second ODI. Despite having many runs on the board, they lost the game as South Africa chased the target down with four wickets to spare. While some raised fingers at Virat Kohli for batting 'slowly', Kaif reckoned that those who blamed him had no knowledge of the game. He reflected that poor bowling and fielding were the reasons for India's defeat and not Kohli's batting.

"Whoever is questioning him even now has no understanding of cricket. Whoever says that he played slowly does not have knowledge. India scored 360, and he made a hundred in 90 balls. The bowling and fielding was bad. The focus should be there. He has performed, and you must praise him. 360 runs are a lot. Runs were not less. If you want to question, question the bowling."

Virat Kohli got to his century off just 90 balls. His eventual score of 102 from 93 balls came at a stike-rate of 109.68 with seven boundaries and two sixes.