Virat Kohli has added another milestone to his illustrious career by smashing his 52nd ODI hundred in the first match against South Africa at Ranchi. This century not only guided India’s innings but propelled Kohli ahead of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar for the most hundreds scored by a male player in a single format.

Kohli Surpasses Tendulkar’s ODI Record

Before this innings, Sachin Tendulkar held the record with 49 ODI hundreds. Kohli’s 52nd hundred now comfortably places him as the leading century-maker in men’s ODI cricket. Alongside this, this knock marked Kohli’s 83rd international century across formats, making him second only to Tendulkar’s 100 international tons in cricket history.

A Record Against South Africa

Known for his exceptional performances against the Proteas, this century in Ranchi was Kohli’s sixth ODI hundred against South Africa. This innings helped him break a three-way tie he shared with Sachin Tendulkar and Australia’s David Warner, who had each scored 5 ODI hundreds against South Africa. Masterclass at the Crease

Coming in early after the fall of young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kohli steadied the innings alongside Rohit Sharma. His innings featured classic cover drives and excellent strike rotation, showcasing his trademark composure and class. His performance laid a strong foundation towards putting up a massive total in the match.

On the Verge of Another Milestone

In the three-match series against South Africa, Kohli is also eyeing the 28,000-run milestone in international cricket, a prestigious achievement attained previously only by Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara. Heading into the series, Kohli needed 337 runs to reach this landmark.