Virat Kohli Shines Again with Century Against South Africa

Virat Kohli continues to impress with his batting prowess, scoring another century against South Africa in the second ODI of the series. With remarkable statistics and record-breaking achievements, Kohli's performance has solidified his status as one of cricket's greats. This article delves into his recent innings, career milestones, and the match summary, highlighting his journey towards joining the elite 28,000-run club in international cricket. Read on to explore the details of his stellar performance and what it means for his career.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 3, 2025, 18:56 IST

Kohli's Stellar Performance Against South Africa

Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli showcased his exceptional talent once more against South Africa, achieving his second consecutive century in the ongoing three-match ODI series. In the second ODI held in Raipur on Wednesday, Kohli scored a remarkable 102 runs off 93 balls, featuring seven boundaries and two sixes. This follows his explosive 135 runs from 120 balls in the first ODI at Ranchi, where he hit 11 fours and seven sixes.

Record-Breaking Achievements

Kohli's statistics against South Africa in ODIs are impressive. Over 33 matches and 31 innings, he has amassed 1,741 runs at an average of 69.64, with a strike rate of 88.51, including seven centuries and eight fifties. This achievement marks him as the player with the most centuries against South Africa in ODIs. With his latest century, Kohli has now recorded 11 instances of scoring centuries in consecutive ODI innings, surpassing AB de Villiers, who has six such instances. Additionally, he holds the record for the most streaks of three or more consecutive innings with scores over 50 in ODIs, totaling 13, while Rohit Sharma follows with 11.

Outstanding Year and Career Highlights

Kohli's recent performances have been stellar, with his last three ODI innings against South Africa resulting in centuries, including a score of 101* during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. In 12 ODIs this year, he has scored 586 runs at an average of 58.60, with a strike rate of 92.72, including three centuries and three fifties, with a top score of 135. He is now just 90 runs shy of joining legends Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara in the exclusive 28,000-run club in international cricket. Across 555 international matches, Kohli has accumulated 27,910 runs at an average of 52.46, with 84 centuries and 144 fifties in 622 innings, making him the third-highest run-scorer in international cricket history, behind Sachin Tendulkar's 34,357 runs.

Raipur ODI: Match Summary

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's partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored 105 runs off 83 balls, was pivotal, as they added 195 runs for the third wicket, putting India in a strong position. KL Rahul contributed with an unbeaten 66 runs off 43 balls, while Ravindra Jadeja added 24 runs off 27 balls, culminating in a rapid 69-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Marco Jansen was the standout bowler for South Africa, taking 2 wickets for 63 runs.