Kaif Highlights Kohli and Rohit’s Crucial Role After India’s Series Win Against South Africa

India sealed a hard-fought 2-1 ODI series victory over South Africa with a commanding performance in the decider on Saturday evening, successfully chasing down 273 on the back of resolute half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The result not only avenged an opening defeat but also reaffirmed the enduring class of the two modern greats in the 50-over format.

Rohit Sharma, playing his first bilateral ODI series since relinquishing captaincy, showcased a refreshed approach, stroking a classy 75 off 85 balls while forging a 155-run opening stand with the explosive Yashasvi Jaiswal, who celebrated his maiden ODI century. Kohli, unbeaten on 67, then steered the chase home with surgical precision against South Africa’s pace attack, completing a series tally of two hundreds and a fifty to finish 2025 as India’s highest ODI run-getter.

Former India batter Mohammed Kaif hailed the duo’s contributions as proof that they remain indispensable for India’s ambitions at the 2027 ODI World Cup. “Without Kohli and Rohit, you can never win the 2027 World Cup,” Kaif asserted on his YouTube channel, pointing to Kohli’s hunger and Rohit’s newfound maturity as signs both could extend their white-ball careers well beyond the next global showpiece.

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Kaif particularly praised Rohit’s shift from his earlier ultra-aggressive style to a more situation-aware method. “He saw the situation and took time… Now he is looking to play long and valuing his wicket a lot more,” the former middle-order batter noted, contrasting it with Rohit’s previous tendency for quick cameos.

Kohli, named Player of the Series, described the freedom he felt during the knock. “When I play freely, I know I can hit sixes… Must-win brings the best out of us,” he said in the post-match presentation, revealing that the break since the Australia tour had re-energised him and unlocked an aggressive mindset he hadn’t experienced in a while.

With head coach Gautam Gambhir expressing hope that Kohli “continues doing the same” and young guns like Jaiswal stepping up alongside the veterans, India’s series triumph in Visakhapatnam offered a compelling blueprint of experience blending seamlessly with emerging talent as the team builds toward defending its 2027 title on South African soil.

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