India crushed South Africa by nine wickets in the third ODI at Visakhapatnam to seal the series 2–1, and the night ended with an emotional Virat Kohli speaking from the heart after being named Player of the Series. The former captain, who scored two hundreds and an unbeaten 65 across the three matches, received the trophy along with a cheque and then opened up about his mindset and the journey of the last few years.
Virat Kohli’s dominant series performance:
Kohli was the standout batter of the series, amassing 336 runs at an average of 168, including two centuries (122 in the first ODI and 101* in the second) and his unbeaten 65 off 45 in the decider. His ability to anchor the chase alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal’s maiden ton and then accelerate with three sixes underlined his class, earning him his 11th ODI Player of the Series award. This haul came after a lean phase, making his return to form even more emphatic against a quality South African attack.
Kohli said the greatest satisfaction for him was the way he batted through the series, explaining that he finally feels mentally free at the crease again. He admitted that for the last two to three years, he had not played with this kind of freedom, but when he is able to bat like this, it lifts both his own confidence and the team’s chances. According to Kohli, being in control in the middle allows him to manage any situation and pull the game back in India’s favour, something that becomes even more important as a batter with a long career behind him who has inevitably gone through phases of self‑doubt.
He described his evolution as a continuous journey of getting better, not just as a cricketer but as a person, saying that those tough years shaped his temperament and perspective. Kohli added that when he plays with freedom, he knows he can clear the ropes and keep unlocking new levels in his game, but his real happiness comes from still being able to contribute decisively to the team after so many seasons. He also mentioned that he had not played any competitive match since the tour of Australia, which made this return to form across three ODIs feel even more special.
On the match itself, South Africa were bowled out for 270 after Quinton de Kock’s century, with Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav taking four wickets each. India then cantered home in 39.5 overs, powered by a 155‑run opening stand between Rohit Sharma (75) and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who went on to score his maiden ODI hundred. Kohli finished unbeaten on 65 off 45 balls in an unbroken 116‑run stand with Jaiswal, underlining why he walked away with the series award.
