Virat Kohli’s Record-Breaking Century Creates New Global Milestone
Virat Kohli breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s historic centuries record with a stunning 52nd ODI hundred in Ranchi, setting a new world milestone in cricket history.
Virat Kohli
A fresh page opened in cricket when Virat Kohli crossed yet another historic number at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi. His 52nd ODI hundred turned into more than a personal achievement. It became the moment he stood above every player in history for the most centuries in any single cricket format, overtaking Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic 51 Test centuries.
The match against South Africa carried pressure and expectations, but the innings stayed calm, measured and fluent. Early loss of Yashasvi Jaiswal created a small shake, yet the partnership with Rohit Sharma quickly settled the innings. Each cover drive and quick single showed how naturally Kohli built momentum without forcing the game.
This century was also his sixth against South Africa in ODIs, making the Proteas one of his favourite opponents. The innings positioned him past a three-way tie shared earlier with David Warner and Tendulkar, both of whom had five ODI hundreds each against the same side.
Why This 52nd ODI Hundred Matters So Much
This was not just another three-figure mark. It was a record that stood for years. Sachin Tendulkar’s 49 ODI centuries once looked impossible to overtake. When Kohli equalled it, many felt the gap between eras had finally closed. But now, with his 52nd hundred, the gap widens in Kohli’s favour.
This knock also strengthened his movement towards another milestone. Only two players in cricket have crossed 28,000 international runs: Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara. At the start of the South Africa series, Kohli needed 337 runs to join them. This innings moved him significantly closer.
It also signalled how much hunger remained in him even at 36. With tremendous fitness and focus, the route to 100 international hundreds no longer appears unreachable.
Classic Kohli Style Defines the Ranchi Innings
Fans in Ranchi witnessed the familiar rhythm. The crisp footwork. The balance at the crease. The clean striking through the off-side. Kohli rotated strike in the middle overs and lifted pressure off his batting partner with timely boundaries.
Nothing flashy. No unnecessary risks. Just method and maturity.
The innings matured as the ball got older. His running between the wickets stayed quick, almost sharp enough to turn singles into twos at will. As the bowlers lost length consistency, Kohli pushed the match deeper and gained full control.
South African bowlers tried variations, but Kohli’s calmness made each adjustment ineffective. He reached the century almost silently, raising his bat while the crowd erupted across Dhoni’s hometown.
Kohli’s ODI Centuries Summary Table (Updated After 52nd Hundred)
Below is a cleaned, simple table summarising Kohli’s ODI hundreds count across key categories:
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Total ODI Hundreds | 52 |
| International Hundreds (All Formats) | 83 |
| ODI Hundreds in Winning Cause | 42 |
| ODI Hundreds While Chasing | 27 |
| ODI Hundreds Against Sri Lanka | 10 |
| ODI Hundreds Against West Indies | 9 |
| ODI Hundreds Against Australia | 8 |
| ODI Hundreds Against South Africa | 6 |
| ODI World Cup Hundreds | 5 |
| ODI Hundreds at Home | 23 |
| ODI Hundreds in SENA Countries | 10 |
| Highest ODI Score | 183 |
| First ODI Century Year | 2009 |
| Latest ODI Century Venue | Ranchi |
| Most Hundreds at a Single Ground | 4 (Colombo & Dhaka) |
A Look Back at How Kohli Reached This Stage
This journey began in 2008 with his ODI debut. His first hundred arrived the next year in Kolkata. That match against Sri Lanka announced a new era for Indian batting, though no one then predicted the records he would one day chase.
His early years saw rapid growth. Back-to-back hundreds in Dhaka, match-winning knocks against Australia and Pakistan, and stunning innings in Sri Lanka built his appetite for big scores. By 2012 and 2013, Kohli stood among the most reliable ODI batters, winning games consistently while chasing.
Many of his world-famous knocks came under pressure. The unbeaten 133 against Sri Lanka in Hobart stayed unforgettable. The 183 against Pakistan in Dhaka remains an ODI classic. India often leaned on him, and he continued delivering.
His consistency across countries, especially the 10 hundreds in SENA nations, separated him from many modern batters. Harder pitches and stronger fast bowling did not slow him down. His adaptability across surfaces added weight to his growing legacy.
Kohli Stands Second Only to Sachin in Overall International Centuries
There has only ever been one player with 100 international centuries: Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli now stays alone in second place with 83. And while the gap still stands, the span of his career, fitness levels, and capacity for progression keep the conversation open.
Where Tendulkar dominated for two decades, Kohli built his career with equal discipline and unmatched chasing ability. He may not reach 100 hundreds easily, but his pace across formats keeps every milestone in reach.
Ranchi Crowd Witnesses a Memory for a Lifetime
The stadium in Ranchi has seen memorable cricket, especially because of MS Dhoni. But on this day, Kohli owned the ground. Each stand echoed after every boundary. Fans who waited hours under the winter sun watched a once-in-a-generation player create global history right in front of them.
The energy carried a mix of nostalgia and excitement. The connection between Kohli and the crowd felt personal, especially because Dhoni’s hometown contributed heavily to his support and rise.
South Africa Becomes One of Kohli’s Strongest Opponents
Kohli has always scored freely against South Africa. Pace attacks featuring Rabada, Ngidi and others rarely troubled him in ODIs. His methods work effectively against controlled pace and bounce. Most of his hundreds against them came in tough conditions or pressure games.
This sixth century continues a long pattern where Kohli performs strongest against high-quality bowling.
A Quick Look at Kohli’s Special Strength: Centuries in Winning Causes
Few batters in cricket have such a strong impact on results. Out of 52 ODI hundreds, 42 came when India won. This number alone shows how closely linked India’s ODI success over the last 15 years has been with Kohli’s dominance.
He has also remained unbeaten in 19 of those centuries. That means he not only scored the runs but also stayed till the finish, securing outcomes.
This is why the cricket world calls him the Chase Master.
How the 52nd Hundred Shapes the Future
Kohli still has several milestones possible in the next two years if form and fitness stay similar.
Possible markers he might cross include:
Reaching 28,000 international runs Closing the gap on 90 international hundreds Potentially competing for the world record of 100 centuries
With strong ODI schedules and steady Test cricket, every major record in world batting may remain open.
Complete ODI Centuries List Snapshot
Below is a short snapshot of his hundreds timeline to show progression:
2009 – First ODI ton (Kolkata) 2010-2012 – Breakthrough phase with multiple hundreds 2012-2018 – Peak period across continents 2019-2023 – Transition and adaptation 2025 – 52nd ton, breaking global record in single format
This line of progress displays why Kohli earned comparisons with Tendulkar, and why he now holds records that once belonged only to the legendary Master Blaster.
Conclusion: A Night That Rewrites Cricket History Again
The moment in Ranchi goes into cricket’s golden chapters. Virat Kohli’s 52nd ODI century is more than a score. It is the point where generations meet, where one legend touches the legacy of another, and where fans witness greatness in motion.
This record will stay a major part of India’s cricket story long after this series ends. Kohli’s hunger still looks fresh, and the chase for bigger numbers stays alive.