Virat Kohli silences critics with blistering 139* in India's

Virat Kohli delivered a masterclass in chasing, smashing an unbeaten 139 to power India to an eight-wicket victory over West Indies in the first ODI on September 28. His explosive 88-ball knock, featuring 10 fours and nine sixes, also saw him become only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to cross 15,000 ODI runs.

Mohammad Kaif, the former India and RCB batter, made a strong statement defending Kohli's choice to live in London with his family. Critics had questioned how his game would hold up while staying abroad. Kaif said Kohli has "shut everybody's mouths" with his performances. "If Kohli can play such knocks, it doesn't matter if he stays in London or America," Kaif stated on his YouTube channel. He pointed to Kohli's recent successes, including being Player of the Tournament in the 2023 World Cup and Man of the Match in the IPL 2026 final, as proof his focus remains intact.

Veteran opener Rohit Sharma recalled the origin of the popular fan-coined moniker 'Ro-Ko', which refers to his legendary partnership with Kohli. Sharma said the tag started gaining traction during or after a series in Australia. "Whenever this plays on TV, we look at each other and laugh," Rohit told Jio Hotstar. "People want masala, so there you go." Kohli himself admitted the nickname has a nice ring to it, especially now that the duo primarily plays the one-day format together.

A struggling Mumbai eatery called Delhi Se found its fortunes transformed after an order from Anushka Sharma for Virat Kohli. The small chole bhature shop in Chembur was deep in debt and planning to shut down in September 2022. After a recommendation from comedian Abhishek Upmanyu on Instagram, the shop received a call from Anushka Sharma's home requesting two plates for Kohli. This endorsement helped turn the business around. The shop now reportedly serves about 3,000 plates a day and claims monthly sales of nearly Rs 20 million.

His latest innings was a perfect example. Kohli reached his fifty with a six, his century with a six, and sealed the win with a six. The Hindu's analysis highlighted his extraordinary numbers: 55 centuries and 79 fifties at an average of 59.13. But the numbers only tell part of the story. His mindset under pressure, exemplified by his famous six off Haris Rauf at the 2022 T20 World Cup, turns run-chases into a fine art. Teammate Ravichandran Ashwin offered hilarious praise on social media, jokingly asking if Kohli was "playing for England" after his dominant display.

• Key Takeaways: Kohli's 139* guided India to a 1-0 series lead against West Indies. He joined Sachin Tendulkar in the 15,000-run ODI club. His off-field life in London remains a talking point he is answering with his bat. A viral fan nickname and a famous food order highlight his continued cultural impact.

India leads the three-match series 1-0.