India vs South Africa: The Virat Kohli-Imran Tahir moment ICC absolutely loved

  • Rajarshi Gupta
  • Durban
  • February 2, 2018
  • UPDATED 12:36 IST

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Virat Kohli scored a brilliant hundred in the first ODI
  • India beat South Africa by six wickets in Durban
  • India lead the 6-match series vs South Africa 1-0
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Virat Kohli's 112 propelled India to a six-wicket win over South Africa in the first ODI in Durban. (Photo: ICC)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Virat Kohli scored a brilliant hundred in the first ODI
  • India beat South Africa by six wickets in Durban
  • India lead the 6-match series vs South Africa 1-0
Virat Kohli, the world's No.1 ranked ODI batsman had just been dismissed for 112. India were just eight runs away from victory, South Africa were on the cusp of losing their first ODI at home after 17 successive victories when something wonderful happened at Kingsmead. Imran Tah

Virat Kohli, the world's No.1 ranked ODI batsman had just been dismissed for 112. India were just eight runs away from victory, South Africa were on the cusp of losing their first ODI at home after 17 successive victories when something wonderful happened at Kingsmead.

Imran Tahir, the world's No.1 ranked ODI bowler had a poor night against Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. He had bowled 10 overs for 51 runs and failed to take a wicket. The wily leg-spinner was expected to dent India's middle-order but he was completely ineffective.

However, that did not stop Tahir from running down to Kohli and congratulate him for a special hundred, the Indian superstar's first in South Africa.

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That moment was appreciated by the International Cricket Council, which has had to step in and impose demerit points, fines and even suspensions when players have crossed the line and breached the ICC Code of Conduct.

Chasing 270 against the Proteas, India romped home to their first ODI victory in Durban after Kohli smashed his 33rd hundred and Rahane scored a stylish 79. The duo shared a 189-run stand for the third wicket after Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal had restricted South Africa to a below-par score.

India-South Africa matches have largely been played in the right spirit over the years. There were some words exchanged between certain players during the Test series and in Durban Thursday night but nothing transpired that crossed the line.

Several South African cricketers play in the Indian Premier League and have formed close bonds with Indian players. AB de Villiers has played with Kohli for Royal Challengers Bangalore for several years while Tahir teamed up with MS Dhoni for Rising Pune Supergiant last season.

Tahir and Dhoni will feature together for Chennai Super Kings in this edition of the IPL while Quinton de Kock will share the dressing-room with Kohli and de Villiers at RCB.

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