Virat Kohli Breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s Legendary Century Record in ODI Masterclass

In a dazzling display of batting prowess, Virat Kohli etched his name even deeper into cricketing history by smashing his 52nd ODI century in the first One Day International against South Africa at Ranchi. This phenomenal innings not only anchored India's innings but also saw Kohli break the longstanding record for the most hundreds scored by any batsman in a single format, previously held by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli’s innings, studded with 11 boundaries and seven sixes, was met with a standing ovation as he departed on a magnificent 135.

India's innings was once again led by the batting maestro Kohli, supported ably by Rohit Sharma who contributed a crucial 57 runs and set another record by surpassing Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi for the most sixes in ODI history. Rohit’s early reprieve — a missed catch on 1 run by Tony de Zorzi — proved costly for South Africa. With stand-in captain KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja continuing their partnership at the crease, India was well poised at 301/5 in 45 overs, eyeing a formidable total of 350-plus.

Kohli’s landmark century also marked his 83rd international ton across all formats, placing him second on the all-time list behind only Sachin Tendulkar’s 100 centuries. The 36-year-old batsman’s relentless pursuit of greatness was evident as he steadily clawed his way to this milestone, anchoring the innings after the early fall of Yashasvi Jaiswal. His deft cover drives and flawless shot selection highlighted his enduring class and temperament at the crease.

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This record-shattering innings further cemented Kohli’s reputation as one of the modern greats in cricket history, as he continues to redefine benchmarks in the sport. Besides setting new ODI records, Kohli is also on the cusp of reaching 28,000 international runs, a feat previously achieved only by the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara. With two more matches left in the series, cricket fans eagerly watch to see what other records the Indian stalwart will rewrite next.

South Africa, led by Aiden Markram in the absence of regular skipper Temba Bavuma, faced a challenging day on the field as India's batsmen seized the momentum and displayed dominance. The first ODI showcased the relentless hunger and skill of the Indian side, especially their batting leaders, setting an exciting tone for the remainder of the series.

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