Highlights:
Virat Kohli delivered yet another batting masterpiece, smashing his record-extending 53rd ODI century during the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur. The 37-year-old Indian star, already celebrated as one of the greatest ODI batters of all time, reached the milestone off just 90 balls, showcasing a blend of elegant stroke play, remarkable fitness, and supreme consistency. This knock followed his 135 in the series opener in Ranchi, making it his second century in consecutive games and reaffirming his dominance in the 50-over format.
Kohli’s century also marked his 84th international hundred, bringing him a significant step closer to Sachin Tendulkar’s legendary tally of 100 international tons, a record once deemed unattainable. Tendulkar, who retired in 2013, ended his illustrious career with 51 Test centuries and 49 ODI centuries. With Kohli now within touching distance, the global cricket fraternity is witnessing history unfold.
This latest ton also made Kohli the first player ever to record 11 instances of back-to-back ODI centuries. Such statistical achievements highlight not only his ability to adapt to different conditions and opposition attacks but also his unmatched consistency across generations of bowlers and formats.
Kohli’s sublime form is influencing more than match outcomes, it is reshaping the ICC ODI batting rankings. After his century in Raipur, Kohli closed the gap in the rankings, sitting just 32 points behind current No.1 Rohit Sharma. While Rohit continues to lead the charts ahead of New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran, Kohli leapfrogged Shubman Gill to secure the fourth position. Kohli previously held the No.1 ODI ranking for more than three years before being overtaken by Pakistan’s Babar Azam in April 2021. With his recent resurgence, a return to the top now looks increasingly likely.
India had more to celebrate beyond Kohli’s heroics. Ruturaj Gaikwad also struck a century, and together, the pair broke a 15-year record previously held by Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik for the highest ODI partnership against South Africa by an Indian duo. Their efforts powered India to an imposing total of 358/5.
On the bowling front, Kuldeep Yadav climbed to sixth in the latest ICC ODI bowlers’ rankings, adding to India’s positive developments. The team’s all-round performance in both departments underscores India’s strong preparation ahead of upcoming international commitments.
As Kohli keeps rewriting records and narrowing the gap with Tendulkar’s monumental achievements, the anticipation among fans continues to grow. Each innings from the modern-day maestro feels like a step closer to one of cricket’s most cherished milestones, and Raipur was yet another chapter in a story that continues to inspire millions.
