Virat Kohli entered his name in the record books on Wednesday (December 3) by breaking the record of scoring the most centuries in one-day matches played between India and South Africa. The century by Kohli in the ongoing second India-South Africa ODI in Raipur is his 53rd century in 50-over matches and seventh against South Africa.
The previous record of scoring the most 100s in India-South Africa ODIs was held by AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock of South Africa. Both ABD and De Kock have six centuries each to their credit.
Kohli needed 90 balls on Wednesday to complete his century. He reached the 100-run mark by taking a single on the last ball of the 38th over bowled by Marco Jansen.
Kohli now has 11 different streaks of hundreds in two (or more) consecutive ODI innings. The next most for anyone is six by AB de Villiers. He now also has seven (or more) hundreds against four different opponents – 10 vs Sri Lanka, 9 vs West Indies, 8 vs Australia and 7 vs South Africa.
Sachin Tendulkar is the only one to have done so against multiple opponents: 9 vs Australia and 8 against Sri Lanka.
In his last three ODIs for India against South Africa, Kohli has scored three centuries. He made an unbeaten 101 in the ODI World Cup 2023 match at Eden Gardens on November 5, 135 in Ranchi on November 30, 2025, and 102 on Wednesday.
Kohli added 195 runs for the third wicket with Ruturaj Gaikwad in Raipur. Gaikwad, who came out to bat at No. 4 for India in the ongoing match, also scored a century. The 28-year-old right-handed batter from Maharashtra needed 77 balls to reach the triple-figure mark for the first time in ODIs. He completed his first 50 in 52 balls and doubled in just 25 balls. During his stay at the crease, Gaikwad hammered 12 fours and 2 sixes.
