Vintage Virat Kohli is back with a bang, and Indian cricket fans are losing their minds. In two successive ODIs against South Africa, Kohli has now slammed two centuries—his 53rd and 54th in the format—while bringing back the chirpy, aggressive fielding persona that defined his prime years. The moment that sent social media into overdrive came in the second ODI at Raipur when Kohli performed his signature ‘naagin dance’ after Quinton de Kock fell to Arshdeep Singh in the fifth over.

The Viral ‘Naagin Dance’ Moment

The clip captured Kohli at slip, reacting with pure elation as de Kock edged to KL Rahul off Arshdeep’s delivery. What followed was classic Kohli: a cheeky snake-like dance move, complete with hand gestures mimicking the ‘naagin’ sway. Fans immediately flooded social media with memes, comparisons to his 2010s celebrations, and captions like “VK 18 is BACK!” and “Old Kohli unlocked.” This wasn’t just a wicket celebration—it was a statement of the swaggering, never-say-die competitor India’s fans had been craving amid recent form concerns.

Kohli’s return to this animated style coincides perfectly with his batting renaissance. After a 135 in Ranchi (his 52nd ODI ton), he blazed 102 off 93 balls (7x4s, 2x6s) in Raipur, sharing a mammoth 195-run third-wicket stand with Ruturaj Gaikwad (105 off 83, maiden ODI century). India posted 358/5, setting South Africa a mountain to climb.

Kohli’s Batting Dominance: 84th International Ton

The 37-year-old, now playing only ODIs post-Test and T20I retirements, imposed himself from ball one at No. 3. Walking in early after openers Rohit Sharma (14) and Yashasvi Jaiswal fell cheaply to Nandre Burger and Marco Jansen, Kohli dominated with a wide stroke range—pulls, cover drives, and calculated risks against spin. His 53rd ODI century came off 90 balls, extending his format lead and marking his 84th international ton overall.

Kohli trails Sachin Tendulkar’s 100 international centuries by 16, but at this rate, the chase feels tantalizingly real. This was his 11th back-to-back ODI centuries (most ever), silencing doubters and reclaiming narrative control. In ICC rankings, he’s closing on Rohit Sharma’s No.1 spot, overtaking Shubman Gill to fourth while Kuldeep Yadav jumped to sixth among bowlers.

Fans Go Wild: “VK 18 Returns!”

Social media erupted: “Naagin dance after 5+ years… Old VK is here!” trended worldwide. Comparisons to his 2018-2020 peak flooded timelines, with edits overlaying the dance with past celebrations. Fans noted how Kohli’s aggression—fielding sprints, constant chirping—has synced with his batting firepower, powering India’s 358/5. Even as South Africa mounted a chase led by Aiden Markram’s ton, Kohli’s dual impact stole the show.

This resurgence comes amid dressing-room chatter involving coach Gautam Gambhir, but Kohli’s focus remains laser-sharp. With two tons in two games, he’s not just scoring runs—he’s reclaiming his aura, one ‘naagin’ step at a time.