Virat Kohli extended his record for one-day international centuries to 52 as India secured a 17-run victory over a resilient South Africa in the opening match of the three-game series on Sunday.
Kohli scored 135 off 120 balls at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi, sharing a second-wicket partnership of 136 with Rohit Sharma to propel India to 349-8. Rohit contributed 57 before being trapped lbw by Marco Jansen. His innings included three sixes, taking his career total in ODIs to 352 sixes, surpassing Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi.
South Africa fought back strongly, with Corbin Bosch scoring 67 off 51 balls. Matthew Breetzke added 72 and Jansen 70, combining for a sixth-wicket stand of 97 to revive the chase after South Africa slipped to 11-3 and 77-4. Entering the 50th over, they required 18 runs for victory with one wicket remaining, but Bosch fell on the second ball, leaving the visitors all out for 332.
Kuldeep Yadav emerged as the key bowler for India, taking 4-68. His double strike to dismiss Jansen and Breetzke within three balls proved decisive.
Kohli, 37, also achieved his 83rd international century across all formats, reaching the milestone with a boundary off Jansen. During the celebrations, an Indian fan ran onto the field to touch Kohli’s feet before being restrained.
Kohli now holds the record for the most ODI hundreds, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s 49, and leads all players in hundreds in a single format, exceeding Tendulkar’s Test tally of 51.
India, led by KL Rahul in the absence of the injured Shubman Gill, relied heavily on the experience of Kohli and 38-year-old Rohit, who now play exclusively in the 50-over format following their retirement from T20 and Test cricket. Rahul contributed 60 off 56 balls, while Ravindra Jadeja added 32 off 20.
The second match of the series will take place on Wednesday in Raipur.
