Karan Virat Kohli continued his love affair with South Africa’s bowling attack by smashing his 53rd ODI century at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur.
The former Indian captain reached the milestone in just 90 deliveries, showcasing the class and consistency that have defined his career.
This was Kohli’s second century in the ongoing three-match series against the Proteas.
The Virat Kohli 53rd ODI century came in typical fashion, with solid technique, calculated aggression, and an unmatched ability to accelerate when needed.
Virat Kohli Scores 53rd ODI Century Against South Africa in Raipur Thriller
How Kohli Built His Innings?
Kohli arrived at the crease with India needing stability. He provided exactly that, reaching his century in 90 balls before eventually getting dismissed for 102 off 93 deliveries.
Lungi Ngidi finally ended Kohli’s brilliant knock, but not before the maestro had once again proven why he’s one of ODI cricket’s all-time greats.
Kohli’s Innings Breakdown:
- Runs Scored: 102 off 93 balls
- Boundaries: 7 fours and 2 sixes
- Strike Rate: 109.67
- Series Stats: 2 centuries in 2 matches
- 2025 Form: 586 runs in 12 innings with 3 centuries
Kohli’s Dominance Against South Africa
Virat Kohli’s ODI century against South Africa was his seventh against the Proteas in just 31 innings.
This makes South Africa the fourth opponent against whom Kohli has scored seven or more ODI centuries, joining Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Australia.
Only Sachin Tendulkar has achieved this feat against multiple opponents, putting Kohli in elite company.
Kohli’s ODI Centuries by Opponent:
| Opponent | ODI Centuries | Innings |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 9 | 48 |
| West Indies | 8 | 42 |
| Australia | 7 | 56 |
| South Africa | 7 | 31 |
| Bangladesh | 5 | 28 |
| New Zealand | 4 | 34 |
| Pakistan | 3 | 21 |
Record Partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad
The highlight of India’s innings wasn’t just Kohli’s brilliance—it was the partnership he shared with Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Gaikwad entered after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal for 62 in the 10th over. What followed was a masterclass in ODI batting.
The duo stitched together a magnificent 195-run partnership for the third wicket, breaking the previous Indian record of 194 runs set by Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik against South Africa in 2010.
Gaikwad played the innings of his life, scoring his maiden ODI century. His knock of 105 off 83 balls was aggressive yet controlled.
He became the second-fastest Indian to score a century against South Africa in ODIs, taking just 78 balls. Only Yusuf Pathan was faster, reaching the mark in 68 deliveries at Centurion in 2011.
India Post Massive Total
Thanks to Virat Kohli 53rd ODI century and Gaikwad’s maiden ton, India posted a formidable total.
Final Score: India: 358/5 in 50 overs
- Ruturaj Gaikwad: 105 off 83 balls
- Virat Kohli: 102 off 93 balls
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: 62 off 55 balls
South Africa were set a challenging target of 359 runs to level the series.
Conclusion: Kohli’s Consistency Continues
Virat Kohli’s ability to score big runs against top teams remains unmatched.
His Virat Kohli ODI century against South Africa was his 11th instance of scoring consecutive centuries in ODIs—a testament to his incredible consistency.
With 586 runs already in 2025 from just 12 innings, Kohli shows no signs of slowing down.
This was his 11th year of scoring three or more centuries, matching his own incredible standards.
India’s strong batting performance, led by Kohli and Gaikwad’s record partnership, has put them in a commanding position in the series.
If South Africa’s bowlers couldn’t contain Kohli in Raipur, chasing 359 will be an uphill battle.
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