India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the team management is not talking about the 2027 World Cup as the tournament is still almost two years away. Kotak showered praise on Virat Kohli and said the veteran batter is ticking the right boxes in his fitness as well as preparation.

Kohli scored a match-winning knock of 135 runs off just 120 balls in the opening game of the series against South Africa at the JSCA International Sports Complex, Ranchi on Sunday. Thus, Kohli played a key role in helping India post 349 runs on the board and the hosts were able to claim a 17-run win to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

“In my opinion, there should be no such talks. Talking about things that are two years away, I don’t think there is any point talking about such things. I don’t think we are even talking about the 2027 World Cup. They (Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli) are contributing, which is great for the team,” Kotak said during the post-match press conference (via BCCI).

“I don’t know why do we need to look at all this. He (Kohli) is batting really well. I don’t see any reason we need to talk about his future. Just the way he is batting, he is just brilliant. The way he is performing, the way his fitness is, there are no questions about anything,” Kotak added.

Kotak heaped praise on Virat Kohli for scoring his 52nd ODI century. The batting coach said Kohli took the onus on his shoulders and delivered for the umpteenth time for India.

“It was an outstanding knock, obviously, he batted really well. He is, in the one day format, and all the other formats, he is a thoroughly outstanding player. He took responsibility, and the way he batted was really good. They are both experienced players, it is always great to have them. And the way they bat, today also, they got that partnership, all of it makes a huge difference,” Sitanshu Kotak said.

The second ODI between India and South Africa will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur on Wednesday.