India, Dec. 1 -- Emotions were running high on Sunday when Virat Kohli shut his critics up for good, bringing up his 52nd ODI century. The first ODI of the three-match series against South Africa in Ranchi saw Kohli putting on a masterclass, eventually scoring 135 runs off 120 balls with the help of 11 fours and 7 sixes, setting the base for the hosts to post 349 runs on the board. What made the feat all the memorable was that Kohli shared a 136-run stand for the second wicket with his long-time partner-in-crime Rohit Sharma.

The two stalwarts of the game rolled back time, putting on a vintage masterclass, hitting bowlers for fun. Rohit might have missed out on a century, but Kohli ensured that he got to the three-figure mark and got the...