Virat Kohli Shines Again with 53rd ODI Century Against South Africa

Virat Kohli has once again proven his prowess on the cricket field by scoring his 53rd ODI century against South Africa. This remarkable achievement marks his second consecutive century in the series, showcasing his exceptional skill and control. Cricket legends have taken to social media to praise Kohli's performance, highlighting his statistical dominance against the Proteas. With this latest century, Kohli is just 90 runs away from joining the elite 28,000-run club in international cricket. The match in Raipur saw India put up a strong performance, with significant contributions from Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Read on to discover more about Kohli's incredible journey and the match highlights.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 3, 2025, 18:55 IST

Virat Kohli's Remarkable Performance

The Indian cricket community celebrated as Virat Kohli achieved his 53rd ODI century against South Africa, marking his second consecutive century in the series. Following a powerful 135 off 120 balls in Ranchi, which included 11 fours and seven sixes, Kohli showcased a more measured approach this time, scoring 102 runs off 93 balls with seven fours and two sixes. His ability to tackle both spin and pace, along with his sharp running between the wickets, reflected his prime form.

Praise from Cricket Legends

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag took to X to express his admiration, stating, "Virat Kohli's obsession with centuries is unmatched. While we count centuries, he treats them as routine. Back-to-back hundreds for the King!" He also highlighted Ruturaj Gaikwad's impressive century.

Irfan Pathan, another former all-rounder, tweeted, "On Sundays, the king plays for sure, but on weekdays, he plays with your strategies. Brilliant century by Virat Kohli."

Commentator Harsha Bhogle remarked, "A diamond is forever #No53 #ViratKohli."

Aakash Chopra, Kohli's former teammate, noted that Kohli had his "beast mode activated" with back-to-back centuries.

Mohammed Kaif emphasized Kohli's importance, stating, "Without Kohli, cricket is nothing... pure vintage!"

India's star opener, who recently won the ICC Women's World Cup, added, "Form is temporary. Kohli is forever."

Kohli's Statistical Superiority

Kohli's performance against South Africa is exceptional. In 33 ODIs, he has amassed 1,741 runs at an impressive average of 69.64, with a strike rate of 88.51, including seven centuries and eight fifties. This makes him the leading century-maker against South Africa in ODIs.

With his latest century, Kohli has now recorded 11 instances of consecutive centuries in ODIs, surpassing AB de Villiers, who has six. He also holds the record for the most streaks of three or more consecutive innings with scores over 50 in ODIs, with 13 such streaks.

His last three ODI innings against South Africa have all been centuries, including a score of 101* during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

In 2023, Kohli has played 12 ODIs, scoring 586 runs at an average of 58.60, with three centuries and three fifties, his highest score being 135.

He is just 90 runs shy of joining the elite 28,000-run club in international cricket, having scored 27,910 runs in 555 matches at an average of 52.46, with 84 centuries and 144 fifties.

Raipur ODI Match Overview

In the Raipur ODI, India batted first after being put in by South Africa, who quickly reduced the hosts to 62/2 with the dismissals of Rohit Sharma (14) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (22). Kohli (102 off 93 balls) and Ruturaj (105 off 83 balls) formed a formidable partnership, adding 195 runs for the third wicket, putting India in a strong position. KL Rahul (66* off 43 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (24* off 27 balls) contributed to a swift 69-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Marco Jansen was the standout bowler for South Africa, taking 2 wickets for 63 runs.