Ranchi, Nov 30: Virat Kohli etched another golden chapter in his illustrious career on Sunday, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record for the most centuries in a single format with a masterful 52nd ODI ton in the series opener against South Africa. The JSCA Stadium witnessed a vintage display from the Indian great, who turned the contest into a celebration of his enduring brilliance.
Kohli’s fluent 135 off 120 balls, decorated with 11 boundaries and seven towering sixes, formed the backbone of India’s imposing total. His strike rate of 112.50 underlined the authority with which he controlled the innings. Alongside captain Rohit Sharma, he stitched together a 136-run partnership for the second wicket, putting India firmly in command on a batting-friendly surface.
The landmark century carried historical weight. By moving past Tendulkar’s tally of 51 Test tons, Kohli is now the sole holder of the record for most centuries by a batter in any single format. The Ranchi masterpiece also marked his 83rd international hundred, adding yet another milestone to an already stellar résumé.
Kohli’s domination extended beyond the headline record. His sixth ODI ton against South Africa pushed him ahead of both Tendulkar and David Warner. He also went past Tendulkar’s record for the most fifty-plus scores at home in ODIs, registering his 59th such effort on Indian soil.
In a broader context, his century became the 7000th hundred in men’s international cricket — an appropriate stage for a player who continues to shape the modern era.
Ranchi has long been a happy hunting ground for Kohli, and Sunday reinforced that bond. He now boasts 519 runs in six ODI innings at the venue, averaging an astonishing 173 and striking at 110.19, with three centuries and a fifty to his name.
Kohli’s 2024 numbers in ODIs reflect a reassuring consistency: 484 runs in 11 innings at an average of 53.77, including two centuries and three half-centuries. His overall ODI record — 14,390 runs in 306 matches at an average of 58.02, complemented by 52 centuries and 75 fifties — remains one of the most formidable in cricket history.
In a year of transition for Indian cricket, Kohli’s latest feat stands as both a reminder of his class and a reaffirmation of his unmatched hunger for runs. The Ranchi crowd, treated to yet another chapter of his legacy, will remember this night for a long time to come. (Agencies)
