Virat Kohli scripts history, becomes 1st batter to achieve elusive feat with 53rd ODI century
Team India star Virat Kohli became the first batter to achieve a remarkable feat in ODIs after smashing a brilliant knock of 102 runs off 93 balls in the 2nd ODI against South Africa in Raipur on Wednesday.
Virat Kohli continued his red-hot form for India as he notched up his second successive century in the 2nd ODI against the Proteas in Raipur on Wednesday, December 03. Kohli slammed a brilliant knock of 102 runs off 93 balls, once again imposing his authority on the game with his batting masterclass.
The Indian run machine looked in exquisite touch and controlled the tempo throughout his knock to make another hundred look easy. It was Kohli's 53rd century in ODIs as he extended his tally to 84 in international cricket. The 37-year-old seems to have regained his mojo for India and looks unstoppable once again as he continues to bag centuries one after another.
Kohli notched up his ton off 90 balls in the 2nd ODI in Raipur on Wednesday to make it back-to-back centuries in the first two matches of the three-match series against the Proteas after his magnificent 135-run knock in the first ODI in Ranchi. With his second successive ton, Kohli achieved a feat that no player has managed to achieve in the past.
Virat Kohli becomes 1st player to achieve unique feat
With his 103-run knock against South Africa in Raipur, Kohli scored his 25th ton in ODIs while batting first. He is the first and only batter in ODI history with 25 or more centuries while both batting first and chasing in the format. Kohli has 25 tons while batting first and 28 while chasing in ODIs.
Kohli holds the record for the most centuries by any batter while chasing in ODIs. His tally of 25 tons places him 2nd on the list of batters with the most centuries while batting first in ODIs, behind only the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 32 centuries while batting first in the format.
Most ODI centuries while batting first:
Sachin Tendulkar - 32
Virat Kohli - 25
Ricky Ponting - 22
Hashim Amla - 21
It was the 11th instance of Kohli slamming back-to-back centuries in ODIs. No other player in the history of the format has managed to score back-to-back hundreds on more than six occasions. Kohli's former Royal Challengers Bengaluru teammate AB de Villiers slammed back-to-back ODI tons six times in his career.
With 84 centuries under his belt, Kohli is on track for the record of 100 centuries in international cricket. Tendulkar is the only batter to have slammed hundred tons across formats, but Kohli is closing in on the legend with his incredible consistency. Kohli is now only 16 short of equalling the Master Blaster's record of 100 tons in international cricket.
Tons from Kohli, Gaikwad power India to 358/5
Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad slammed centuries apiece to help India post a big total of 358/5 while batting first in the 2nd ODI against South Africa on Wednesday. Gaikwad slammed his maiden ODI ton en route to his brilliant knock of 105 runs off 83 balls, while Kohli slammed 102 off 93 deliveries.
The duo joined hands after Yashasvi Jaiswal in the 10th over and shared an epic 195-run stand for the third wicket to set the stage for a big total for India. However, the lower middle order failed to capitalise after the duo's dismissal as stand-in skipper KL Rahul's unbeaten 66 off 43 balls guided India to 358/5 in 50 overs.