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After leading India to victory with a stunning century against South Africa in the first ODI at Ranchi, cricket icon Virat Kohli shared his thoughts on his game strategy. He emphasized that he doesn't rely heavily on extensive preparation, stating that his approach is predominantly mental. Kohli also confirmed his commitment to focusing on just one format of the game.

Kohli's remarkable innings marked his 52nd ODI century, setting a new record for the most centuries by a player in a single format. Over 120 balls, he scored 135 runs, including 11 fours and seven sixes, making it one of his most enjoyable innings in recent memory.

During the post-match presentation, Kohli expressed his desire to maintain a sense of enjoyment while playing. Amid speculation about a potential return to Test cricket following a disappointing series against South Africa, he reiterated his focus on one format. Kohli remarked, "Today was really nice to get into the game like that. The pitch played decently for the first 20-25 overs before slowing down. It's all about enjoying the game. I have never been a believer in excessive preparation; my cricket is mental. As long as I am physically fit and mentally sharp, I am good to go."

In the match, South Africa opted to bowl first. India faced an early setback with Yashasvi Jaiswal dismissed for 18 runs off 16 balls. However, Rohit Sharma (57 off 51 balls) and Kohli formed a solid partnership, adding 136 runs for the second wicket. Despite losing wickets in quick succession, a crucial 76-run partnership between KL Rahul (60 off 56 balls) and Kohli, followed by a 65-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja (32 off 20 balls), propelled India to a total of 349/8 in 50 overs.

In response, South Africa struggled early, losing three wickets for just 11 runs. A brief recovery came from a 66-run partnership between Tony de Zorzi (39 off 37 balls) and Matthew Breetzke. Despite a valiant effort from Breetzke (72 off 80 balls) and Marco Jansen (80 off 39 balls), who added 97 runs together, South Africa fell short by 17 runs, finishing at 332 runs. Harshit Rana's bowling performance (3/65) was also noteworthy. With this win, India leads the series 1-0.