New Delhi: Virat Kohli smashed his 52nd ODI hundred in the series opener against South Africa at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Sunday, November 30. He walked in to bat at 25/1 after the Men in Blue were put into bat by the visitors.
He then stitched a solid 136-run partnership with Rohit Sharma for the second wicket. The duo played attacking shots against the South African attack on a belter of a pitch and lightning-quick outfields. The 37-year-old was particularly aggressive, smacking five maximums by the time he moved into the 70s.
Kohli overtakes Tendulkar
Despite a few setbacks at the other end, Kohli completed his century in just 102 deliveries, breaking many records. Kohli’s 52nd ODI ton is the first in the 50-over format since his unbeaten 100 against Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
He also Sachin Tendulkar for most centuries in a single international format, who had hit 51 Test centuries in his career. He had earlier overtaken Tendulkar’s ODI century tally of 49 during India’s 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium.
Kohli now has the most ODI centuries against South Africa (6), overtaking five each by Sachin Tendulkar and David Warner.
Rohit Sharma breaks Shaheen Afridi’s record for most sixes in ODIs
Rohit Sharma also created history by breaking the record of hitting the most sixes in the ODI format. The 38-year-old needed just three maximums ahead of the first India-South Africa ODI to go past Shahid Afridi’s tally of 351 sixes, and he achieved the milestone in the 20th over.
