Kohli gets rolling in Ranchi, rolls back years with 52nd ODI ton

AT MS DHONI'S hometown, they set the bar high for their heroes. On the long walk to the stadium, fans in India blues articulated their wishes to reporters and influencers eager to capture the voice of the people.

- SANDEEP DWIVEDI

With 18 or 45 printed on theirback,theywantedthemen who have made those numbers iconic — Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma — hit sixes and hundreds, too. They got what they wished, almost.

Virat Kohli finished on 135 from 120 balls, Rohit Sharma scored 57 from 51 balls. And between them, they hit 16 sixes. Virat’s 52nd ODI ton and Rohit overtaking Shahid Afridi to become the highest six-hitter ever were the entertaining outcomes that took India to 349 for eight against South Africa in the opening match of the ODI series.