Virat Kohli has carved a new chapter in cricket history. The Indian batting legend broke a monumental record held by Sachin Tendulkar during the first ODI against South Africa.
Kohli achieved this feat at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Sunday. He delivered a breathtaking innings of 135 runs from just 120 deliveries.
The magnificent knock, featuring 11 fours and seven sixes, marked Kohli’s 52nd century in One Day International cricket. This milestone surpasses Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 51 Test centuries for the most hundreds by a batter in a single format.
Kohli reached the landmark in the 38th over of India’s innings. He departed soon after while attempting a lofted shot, concluding yet another batting masterclass. This historic century adds to an already phenomenal year for the champion batter. Kohli recently became the fastest player to reach 14,000 runs in ODI cricket.
VIRAT KOHLI’S 52nd ODI CENTURY FULL HIGHLIGHTS BALL-BY-BALL!! pic.twitter.com/QVewlUfnN4
— NiiK (@Niiki099) November 30, 2025He achieved that earlier milestone in just 287 innings, significantly outpacing all his contemporaries. Kohli’s century formed the centrepiece of a powerful Indian batting performance. Strong support came from captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, who both scored half-centuries.
The collective effort propelled India to a formidable total of 349 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs. South Africa mounted a spirited chase in response. The visitors fought hard but fell agonizingly short in the high-scoring contest, bowled out for 332 in 49.2 overs.
Spinner Kuldeep Yadav played a pivotal role in India’s defence. He claimed four crucial wickets to swing the match decisively in the host nation’s favour.
