Virat Kohli once again proved why he is being called the ‘King’ of Indian cricket. Playing the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday, the former Indian skipper brought up his 52nd hundred in One-Day Internationals to create a massive world record. With 52 ODI centuries, he becomes the batter most tons in a single format of the gentlemen’s game.
Back in 2023, Kohli had surpassed his idol, legendary Sachin Tendulkar, with his 50th ODI hundred, which came against New Zealand in the ICC World Cup 2023 semi-finals. Earlier this year, Kohli notched his 51st in the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai, batting against arch-rivals Pakistan. His achievement on Sunday at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi helped him surpass Tendulkar again.
Tendulkar registered 49 hundreds in ODIs and 51 in Tests, making a total of 100 international centuries. However, Kohli’s 52nd ODI century made him the batter with the most tons in a single format of the game.
At the same time, Kohli went past former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis on the list of batters with the most runs in India vs South Africa ODIs. The 37-year-old is now second on the chart with more than 1600 runs, while Tendulkar stands atop with 2001 runs, with a highest score of 200 not out.
