Virat Kohli records 52nd ODI century, surpasses Sachin Tendulkar for most tons against South Africa in Ranchi

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 Virat Kohli smashed his 52nd ODI hundred against South Africa in Ranchi. (CREIMAS)IND vs SA: Virat Kohli smashed his 52nd ODI hundred against South Africa in Ranchi. (CREIMAS)

India superstar Virat Kohli extended his 50-over international dominance with a record-breaking 52nd ODI century against South Africa in the first match at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi on Sunday.

Walking in at 25 for one after India were put to bat by Aiden Markram’s South Africa, Kohli was quickly sped off the blocks in his first innings at home since February 2025. A classic off-drive against the pacy left-arm seamer Nandre Burger set up his innings after finding a streaky outside-edge to the third-man boundary first ball.

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Kohli then forged a solid partnership with Rohit Sharma, with the pair deflating the South African attack progressively on a belter of a strip and lightning-quick outfields. The 37-year-old Kohli was particularly offensive, smacking five sixes by the time he moved into the 70s.

A record fifty! 🔥🏏#ViratKohli overtakes #SachinTendulkar become the batter with the most fifties (59) in ODIs in India! 💥🇮🇳#INDvSA 1st ODI, LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/BBkwein9oF pic.twitter.com/MTOUrXhSdu

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 30, 2025

Kohli storms past Tendulkar

Despite a few hiccups at the other end, Kohli cantered to his century in only 102 deliveries, bringing down a heap of records. Kohli’s 52nd ODI century, a first in the format since his unbeaten 100 against Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy, also took him past Sachin Tendulkar for most centuries in a single international format, who had struck 51 Test centuries in his career.

VIRAT KOHLI

1st ODI vs South Africa | JSCA International Stadium, Ranchi

52nd

ODI Century | Record-Extending

6 Records Broken in Single Innings

👑

52

Most centuries in single international format (surpassed Tendulkar's 51 Test centuries)

🏏

52

Most ODI centuries ever (record-extending)

🏠

25

ODI centuries at home (first player to reach this milestone)

🇿🇦

6

ODI centuries vs South Africa (most by any batter, surpassed Tendulkar's 5)

💪

218

Sixes at number three across formats (surpassed Ponting's 217)

🤝

20

Century partnerships with Rohit in ODIs (joint 2nd most, 136-run stand)

Match Context

1st

Century since CT 2025

Indian Express InfoGenIE

Kohli had surpassed Tendulkar’s ODI century tally (49) during India’s 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium.

Kohli’s ton was also his 25th ODI century at home, the first player to reach the landmark in the 50-over format.

The former India captain marked his sixth ODI century against South Africa in 30 innings, surpassing Tendulkar (5 in 57 innings) for the most centuries against the Proteas in the ODI format. Kohli averages nearly 70 against South Africa in 50-over cricket, the highest among the six batters who have aggregated at least 1500 against them.

Earlier in the innings, Kohli also went past Ricky Ponting’s 217 sixes at number three in international cricket across formats. Kohli and Rohit raised a 136-run stand for the wicket. It was their 20th century partnership in ODI cricket, the joint-second most only behind Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly (26).

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