Virat surpasses Tendulkar for most centuries in a single format, extends golden run in Ranchi

RANCHI: Legendary Indian batter Virat Kohli had another outing to remember at Ranchi, enthralling fans with his 52nd ODI century and smashing the record of most centuries by a batter in a single format of the game.

The ODI series opener against South Africa was nothing short of a carnival for the fans as India batted. Virat, along with Rohit Sharma put a 136-run stand for the second wicket. Also, he scored 135 in 120 balls, with 11 fours and seven sixes, scoring his runs at a stunning strike rate of 112.50.

Now, he has overcome compatriot and iconic batter Sachin Tendulkar’s mark of 51 Test centuries to become the batter with the most centuries in a single format of the sport. This is also his 83rd century in international cricket.

He also surpassed Sachin in two more aspects, registering his sixth ODI ton against South Africa, outdoing Sachin and David Warner.

Also, he outdid the Master Blaster to register the most fifty-plus scores at home by a batter in ODIs, going past Sachin’s mark of 58 and getting his 59th fifty-plus score in India.

This is also the 7000th ton in men’s international cricket.

With this ton, Virat continues his golden run at Ranchi’s JSCA Stadium, with 519 runs in six innings at an average of 173, including three centuries and a fifty, and scoring his runs at a strike rate of 110.19.

This year in ODIs, Virat has scored 484 runs in 11 matches and innings at an average of 53.77 at a strike rate of 89.79, with two centuries and three fifties and a best score of 135.

Now in ODIs, Virat has scored 14,390 runs in 306 matches and 294 innings at an average of 58.02, with 52 centuries, 75 fifties, and a best score of 183.

Coming to the match, India was put to bat first by SA. While Yashasvi Jaiswal was removed after a promising start for a 16-ball 18, Rohit (57 in 51 balls, with five fours and three sixes) and Virat enthralled the Ranchi crowd with a 136-run second-wicket stand. India lost their way in the middle, with Rohit, Ruturaj Gaikwad (8) and Washington Sundar (13) dismissed in quick succession and India at 200/4. But a partnership of 76 runs between KL (60 in 56 balls, with two fours and a six) and Virat and later a 65-run stand for KL with Jadeja (32 in 20 balls, with two fours and a six) took India to 349/8 in 50 overs. (ANI)