Virat Kohli gave an exhibition of pure class and panache with his batting in the 1st ODI of the three-match series versus South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday. The 37-year-old rolled back the years with a brilliant knock of 135. It was Kohli at his best and he played a key role to help India shine. India scored 349/8 in 50 overs with Kohli adding 136 runs alongside Rohit Sharma and another 76-run stand alongside KL Rahul. India went on to prevail in the contest by 17 runs. Kohli picked up his 44th Man of the Match award after his fiery show at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi.
Kohli’s 135 came from 120 balls. He smoked 7 sixes and 11 fours.
Here we present the numerous milestones attained by Kohli with his 52nd ODI ton.
5500-plus partnership runs alongside Hitman Rohit; 3rd pair to do so
The 136-run stand between Rohit and Kohli for the 2nd wicket saw the pair get past 5500 partnership runs in ODIs. Across 102 innings, the pair owns 5619 runs at 58.53, as per ESPNcricinfo. They are the 3rd pair to stitch 5500-plus partnership runs in ODIs after Sachin Tendulkar/Sourav Ganguly and Mahela Jayawardene/Kumar Sangakkara.
3rd pair with 20-plus century stands
This was the pair’s 20th century-plus stand in ODIs. Rohit and Kohli are the third pair with 20-plus century stands. They joined Ganguly/Tendulkar (26) and Dilshan/Sangakkara (20).
2nd-highest scorer in India vs South Africa ODIs
Kohli is now the 2nd-highest scorer in India vs South Africa ODIs. Kohli (1639) surpassed Jacques Kallis (1535). Only Tendulkar (2001) owns more runs in India vs South Africa ODIs.
52nd ODI century; 6th versus the Proteas
This was Kohli’s 52nd ODI hundred. He has scored 14390 runs from 305 matches at an average of 58.02. He has hit 52 centuries and 75 fifties. Versus South Africa, he now owns 6 tons. He went past Sachin’s tally of 5 hundreds versus SA.
83rd international century for Kohli
In men’s international cricket, Kohli has now hit 83 centuries across formats. Besides his 52 ODI tons, he clocked 30 Test hundreds and one T20I ton as well. Kohli has retired from Tests and T20Is.
Kohli’s love affair with Ranchi: By the numbers
In 6 ODI matches at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi, Kohli now has a tally of 519 runs from 5 innings at an average of 173. He has already hit three centuries and a fifty. His strike rate is 110.19.
25th century in home ODIs
This was Kohli’s 25th hundred in home ODIs. From 125 matches, Kohli owns 6460 runs at 60-plus. Apart from 25 tons, he has hit 34 fifties in India.
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