Virat Kohli lit up the JSCA Stadium once again, producing a sensational knock to smash his 52nd ODI century in the series opener against South Africa on Sunday. The iconic innings powered India to a formidable 349/8, with support from Rohit Sharma (57) and KL Rahul (60), setting the visitors a challenging target of 350.
Kohli reached his milestone in 102 balls, hammering 11 fours and seven sixes in an exhibition of calculated aggression and unshakeable composure. With this three-figure effort—his third ODI ton in Ranchi—the star batter further strengthened his remarkable record at the venue.
The century also marked a historic moment in world cricket, as Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most centuries in a single format. Tendulkar held 51 Test tons, tied with Kohli’s 51 ODI tons until today. With number 52, Kohli now stands alone at the top.
The innings also took Kohli to 83 international hundreds, reinforcing his pursuit of Tendulkar’s all-format record of 100 tons. It is his sixth ODI century versus South Africa, adding to his reputation as one of their greatest tormentors.
Pitch Invader Incident
A dramatic moment unfolded immediately after Kohli reached his ton. A fan breached security and sprinted across the ground to touch Kohli’s feet, interrupting the star mid-celebration as he lifted his ring pendant for his signature tribute. Security personnel intervened and escorted the intruder away.
From Rusty to Ruthless
Kohli appeared tentative early in his innings, raising questions about match rhythm after playing limited formats recently. However, he soon found his touch, attacking freely and striking an unusually high number of sixes to dominate the South African bowlers.
The match, described by Ravi Shastri as being played in “Dhoni-land,” witnessed fan frenzy comparable to the love reserved for Ranchi’s favourite son MS Dhoni, proving Kohli’s magnetic pull across India.
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