Did Virat Kohli Predicted Aiden Markram’s Future 7 Years Ago? Tweet Goes Viral After WTC Final Century

A seven-year-old tweet by Virat Kohli praising South African batter Aiden Markram has resurfaced and gone viral, as Markram’s stellar century has brought South Africa within striking distance of their first World Test Championship (WTC) title and their first ICC trophy since the 1998 Champions Trophy in Bangladesh. With 72 runs still needed and eight wickets in hand, Markram’s unbeaten 102 has South Africa poised to end a nearly three-decade-long wait for ICC silverware.

Kohli’s appreciation for South African cricketers is well-documented. His close friendship with AB de Villiers, forged during their decade-long stint at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), is a testament to this. Kohli also holds former South African captain Faf du Plessis in high regard, naming him as the one player he’d pick from any 2019 ODI World Cup team to play for India. This admiration extended to du Plessis’ appointment as RCB captain in 2021 after Kohli stepped down.

Markram caught Kohli’s eye in 2018, a year after his Test and ODI debut. Having already notched three Test centuries, it was Markram’s 84-run knock in the second innings of a Test against Australia in Cape Town that prompted Kohli to tweet, “Aiden Markram is a delight to watch!” on X (then Twitter). That post gained renewed attention seven years later as Markram’s masterful performance put South Africa on the cusp of WTC glory.

In pursuit of 282 the second-highest successful fourth-innings chase at Lord’s South Africa reached 213 for two by the close of play, needing just 69 more runs. Markram, alongside Temba Bavuma, who was dropped on two by Steve Smith, anchored an unbroken 143-run third-wicket partnership. Despite a tense moment on 23 when Markram nicked a Pat Cummins delivery that fell between the keeper and first slip, he grew in confidence, striking 11 fours at a strike rate of 102 off 159 balls. His century, sealed with a flicked boundary off his pads late on Day 3, has kept South Africa’s hopes alive.

Earlier, Australia’s Mitchell Starc scored a gritty half-century to extend their lead and later claimed both South African wickets to fall. Yet, Markram’s resilience and class have shifted the momentum. While Kohli may not have foreseen this exact moment, his early recognition of Markram’s talent underscores the South African’s enduring quality.