Virat Kohli came into the middle in the third over of the first ODI of the three-match series against South Africa at the JSCA Cricket Stadium in Ranchi. He smashed a fine half-century in his last outing during the third ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground against Australia down under and looked to start from that scratch. 

Kohli was in superb and aggressive mode from the start as he drilled the bowlers for sixes at the start of his innings, which is quite rare in his ODI career. The right-handed batter used his feet and drilled Ottneil Baartman for a six over the mid-on region, which was a clear indication of his form and rhythm in that knock.

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Kohli used the bottom hand to guide a single through the third man to celebrate his 52nd century in the format. He has now gone past Sachin Tendulkar with the most centuries in one format, as the Mumbai-born had 51 centuries in the longest format of the game.

Watch: Virat Kohli notches up 52nd century during IND vs SA Ranchi ODI

Kohli celebrated the century with a kiss on his chain before showing the aggressive mode. He looked in phenomenal touch throughout the innings. He has now slammed most ODI hundreds in a single venue. In Ranchi, he has three centuries in five innings, besides having the same number of centuries in Vizag and Pune in seven and eight innings respectively.

Virat Kohli's obsession with 100's is a never ending story!!!#ViratKohli #IndvsSa pic.twitter.com/3fz6U1ihdT

— !!!IN MY POV!!! (@roxxxxy9) November 30, 2025

After the hundred, Kohli smashed two sixes and two boundaries in the last four balls of Subreyen’s spell. It was also the 7000th century in men’s international cricket as the Proteas continued to find a way for the dismissal of the Delhi batter. He drilled Bartmann for two fours in the 40th over.

India raced their way to 270 in the 42nd over mark and would need to cross the 350-run score at the end of the 50 overs. Kohli was unbeaten on 133 runs in just 115 balls with the help of 11 boundaries and seven sixes at a strike rate of 115.65.