by What a moment it was at Raipur! Virat Kohli raised his bat to celebrate his 53rd ODI century, and the crowd went absolutely wild.
The roar from the stands could probably be heard across the city as the maestro reached three figures in just 90 balls.
This wasn’t just any century. This was Kohli doing what he does best—dismantling South Africa’s bowling attack with pure class.
The Virat Kohli 53rd ODI century came in the second ODI at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, and honestly, it felt like watching poetry in motion.
Kohli walked in when India needed stability. What did he deliver? A masterclass in ODI batting that reminded everyone why he’s called the King of Cricket.
Virat Kohli Scores Record 53rd ODI Century Against South Africa
Why This Century Is Special?
Sure, Kohli has 53 ODI hundreds now, but this one has some seriously impressive context:
7th Century Against South Africa: This Virat Kohli ODI century against South Africa was his seventh against the Proteas in just 31 innings.
That’s insane consistency! South Africa now joins Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and Australia as teams against whom Kohli has seven or more ODI tons.
Only Sachin Tendulkar has achieved this against multiple opponents. Elite company, much?
- 11th Time Scoring Back-to-Back Centuries: This was Kohli’s second consecutive century in this series. He’s now scored back-to-back ODI hundreds 11 times in his career. Eleven times! That’s not consistency—that’s dominance.
- Third ODI Ton in 2025: With this knock, Kohli has now scored three ODI centuries in 2025. He’s done this in a year 11 times since his debut in 2008. Most players would be thrilled with three centuries in their entire career!
Kohli’s 2025 ODI Form:
| Stat | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Innings Played | 12 |
| Total Runs | 586 |
| ODI Centuries | 3 |
| Average | 58.6 |
| Strike Rate | 105.8 |
Those numbers speak for themselves. At 36, Kohli isn’t slowing down—he’s still setting records!
The Historic Partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad
While Kohli was doing his thing, Ruturaj Gaikwad joined the party with his maiden ODI century. And what a debut hundred it was!
The duo put on a stunning 195-run partnership for the third wicket.
This wasn’t just any partnership; it was the highest partnership for India against South Africa for any wicket, breaking Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik’s record of 194 runs set back in 2010.
Gaikwad played brilliantly, scoring 105 off 83 balls. Watching him bat alongside Kohli was like watching a masterclass unfold.
The young opener showed maturity beyond his years, rotating strike beautifully while finding boundaries when needed.
Together, they set up India’s massive total and made South Africa’s bowlers look ordinary.
Kohli’s Match Stats: Breaking It Down
Here’s how the Virat Kohli 53rd ODI century unfolded:
- Runs Scored: 102 (what a knock!)
- Balls Faced: 93 (strike rate of 109.67)
- Fours Hit: 7 (classic Kohli cover drives)
- Sixes Smashed: 2 (straight down the ground beauties)
- Dismissal: Caught off Lungi Ngidi’s bowling
Kohli reached his hundred in 90 balls, then added another 12 runs before getting out for 102. Even in his dismissal, he looked classy!
India’s Commanding Total
Thanks to Kohli and Gaikwad’s brilliance, India posted a formidable 358/5 in 50 overs. That’s a mountain of runs for any team to chase, even South Africa.
The Virat Kohli ODI century against South Africa, combined with Gaikwad’s maiden ton, gave India exactly the kind of momentum they needed in this series.
What does this mean for India Going Forward?
This innings isn’t just about records and numbers. It’s about confidence.
It’s about sending a message to opponents that India’s batting lineup is firing on all cylinders.
With Kohli in this kind of form, India’s ODI future looks incredibly bright.
Whether it’s preparing for the Champions Trophy or building towards the next World Cup, performances like these set the perfect tone.
Kohli continues to prove that age is just a number. His hunger for runs hasn’t diminished one bit.
If anything, he’s getting better with experience, knowing exactly when to accelerate and when to consolidate.
The King keeps delivering. And honestly? We’re not even surprised anymore. That’s just Virat Kohli being Virat Kohli! 👑🔥
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