Latest update:30 November 2025, 4:20 PM IST

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s performances lit up India’s first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi, sparking social media celebrations and memes about their legacy and future.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma at SCG. (AFP)

As India took on South Africa in the first ODI, the live score kept ticking – but on social media, time paused. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The highly anticipated match marked the return of star duo Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to international cricket.

The fans exploded in celebration as Rohit Sharma’s fluent 57 set the tone and Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 93 anchored the innings with vintage flair. From exploding hashtags to wave after wave of heart emojis, social media has turned into a virtual playground, roaring with every frontier and every historical moment.

Together, their stand looked like a throwback to primetime era dominance, and for fans, it wasn’t just about running the board, but about recapturing the magic of two icons who deliver when it matters most.

There’s a viral meme inspired by the movie “Tiger 3” that imagines the two legends talking about retirement, legacy and who comes next.

Social media erupted the moment the memes started circulating, with fans flooding timelines with laughter, tears and heart emojis in equal measure.

“Share karte karte sach baat bol gaya bhai memes,” one user commented. The other added: “We need them more than they need us. The team looks like a different beast when they’re together.”

Virat Kohli is closing in on a record-breaking 52nd ODI century in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi. India reached 218/4 after 35 overs, with Kohli alongside stand-in skipper KL Rahul at the crease.

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