INDvsSA 2nd ODI: Virat Kohli Makes History with 53rd ODI Century

South Africa Skipper Temba Bavuma's decision to insert India first after winning the toss—a recurring nightmare for the visitors, marking their 20th consecutive toss loss in ODIs—backfired spectacularly under the bright Raipur sun. The pitch, offering true bounce and minimal seam movement, transformed into a batter's paradise as Rohit and his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal set the tone with an aggressive start. However, the Proteas struck twice in quick succession to reduce India to a precarious 62 for 2, claiming the scalps of skipper Rohit Sharma (14 off 8 balls, caught behind off Nandre Burger) and Jaiswal (22 off 38, by Jansen).

Enter Ruturaj Gaikwad, the uncapped opener promoted to No. 4 in place of the injured Shreyas Iyer, who delivered a breakout performance for the ages. In a partnership that will be dissected for years, Gaikwad and Kohli forged a monumental 195-run stand for the third wicket, blending calculated aggression with unflinching resilience. Gaikwad, facing his moment of truth, unfurled a flurry of exquisite drives and lofted covers to reach his maiden ODI century off just 77 balls—adorned with 12 fours and 2 sixes—before perishing moments later for 105 (83 balls), holing out to Tony de Zorzi off Jansen in the 36th over. The emotional opener raised his helmet to the roaring crowd, a testament to his seamless transition from domestic heroics to international stardom.

Kohli, ever the sentinel at the crease, remained an impregnable force. Reaching his half-century off 52 balls with a trademark flick off Aiden Markram, the former India Captain accelerated menacingly, blending finesse with ferocity. A pulled four off a Jansen bouncer signaled his intent, followed by a towering six over long-on against Keshav Maharaj that evoked memories of his prime. The climax arrived in the 38th over: a deft push to long-on off Jansen's length delivery brought up the ton in 90 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes), his second consecutive hundred following the 135 in Ranchi. Leaping skyward and pumping his fist, Kohli's roar echoed the ecstasy of 35,000 fans, as he became the first batter to amass 53 hundreds in a single format—eclipsing Sachin Tendulkar's 49 ODI tons and even the Master Blaster's 51 Test centuries.

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At stumps—or rather, with India poised at 276 for 3 after 38.1 overs—KL Rahul (14* off 9, including a flicked four and a lofted six) joined Kohli (101*) to inject fresh momentum. The duo's early skirmishes against Maharaj and Jansen hinted at fireworks, with Rahul's pull shots piercing the infield and Kohli content to rotate strike while eyeing a personal milestone beyond 150.

This Raipur rendezvous, only the venue's second ODI since its 2013 inauguration, carried added weight in the context of India's 2027 World Cup preparations—co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The 'Ro-Ko' duo's resurgence has quelled BCCI debates over their ODI futures, with Rohit's record-extending 300th ODI six in Ranchi and Kohli's vintage strokeplay underscoring their irreplaceable value. For South Africa, reeling from Kuldeep Yadav's 4-wicket haul in the first game, the onus falls on their middle order—Matthew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch, and Jansen—to mount a chase reminiscent of their near-miss (332 all out chasing 350).

As floodlights bathe the stadium, India's bowlers—led by Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna—salivate at defending what could swell past 330. A win here seals a 2-0 series lead, but more profoundly, it cements Kohli's legacy as the ODI's undisputed king. The chase begins at 6:30 PM IST—will the Proteas roar back, or will Virat's masterclass prove insurmountable? Stay tuned.

Also Read: INDvsSA 1st ODI: Harshit Rana’s Doublestrike Turns the Tide Against South Africa in 1st ODI Chase