'Aiden Markram is a delight to watch': Virat Kohli’s tweet from 2018 creates buzz after WTC final hundred

Virat Kohli’s tweet on Aiden Markram from 2018 creates buzz after WTC final hundred (PTI/AP Photos)

Virat Kohli is a multi-talented individual but future prediction is not one of them. Or is it? Following the re-emergence of Kohli's seven-year-old tweet on Aiden Markram, fans began to double-check as the South African batsman delivered one of his finest centuries to move the Proteas closer to winning their first World Test Championship (WTC) title and the first ICC trophy in almost 30 years.

South Africa last won an ICC competition in 1998, when they won the inaugural edition of the ICC Champions Trophy in Bangladesh, which was then referred as ICC Knockout Trophy. Although they still need 69 runs to defeat Australia, it appears very likely that South Africa will end their lengthy wait for an ICC trophy with eight wickets remaining, including that of a rock-solid Markram, who is batting at 102.

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South African batsmen have always been admired by Kohli. Legendary South African cricketer AB de Villiers is one of his best pals on and off the field. The fact that they played together for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for almost ten years undoubtedly helped, creating one of the most exquisite cross-border relationships in cricket history. However, it is no coincidence that Kohli's favorite captain is Faf du Plessis, another South African.

When asked to select one player from any participating team to play for his squad during the all-captains meeting prior to the 2019 ODI World Cup, Kohli named Du Plessis without hesitation. Therefore, it was hardly shocking when RCB selected him at auction and appointed him captain following Kohli's 2021 resignation.

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The most recent addition to Kohli's affinity for South African batsmen is Markram. A year after making his Test and ODI debut in 2017, Markram caught Kohli's eye. Even though he had already scored three Test hundreds, Kohli was particularly impressed by his 84-run knock in the second innings of the Test match against Australia in Cape Town.

"Aiden Markram is a delight to watch!" Kohli had posted on X (then Twitter).

Aiden Markram is a delight to watch!
Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 24, 2018

With South Africa on the verge of winning the WTC, seven years and three months later, the same tweet went viral.

In pursuit of 282, which will be the second-highest successful fourth-inning chase in a Test at Lord's, the Proteas ended up on 213/2 after an unbeaten 143-wicket third-wicket stand, needing another 69 to win the title.

After extending their overnight lead with a tough half-century from Mitchell Starc, Australia had appeared to be in control. Later, the seamer claimed the two South African wickets.

However, Steve Smith dropped Bavuma on two, also hurting himself in the process, and the Proteas skipper ensured Australia pay for their mistake. He added an unbeaten 65 to give South Africa a chance to finally end their drought in ICC competitions.