In a high-scoring thriller in Raipur, Virat Kohli's second consecutive century went in vain as South Africa pulled off a stunning chase of 359 runs to level the three-match ODI series. Despite Kohli's masterful 102 and a record partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad, the Proteas, led by Aiden Markram's brilliant 110, sealed a four-wicket victory with four balls to spare on Wednesday. The series now heads to a winner-takes-all finale in Visakhapatnam this Saturday.
Kohli's Masterclass and Gaikwad's Blitz
Virat Kohli, showcasing his vintage form, crafted a magnificent 102 runs off just 106 deliveries. This was his 53rd ODI century, further cementing his legacy as one of the format's all-time greats. He found a perfect partner in Ruturaj Gaikwad, who smashed a 77-ball 105. Together, they stitched a monumental 195-run stand, which is now India's highest partnership for any wicket against South Africa in ODIs, surpassing the previous record of 194 set by Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik in 2010.
Records Tumble Amidst the Heartbreak
While the team result was disappointing, Kohli's innings was a historic one. He equaled Sachin Tendulkar's record of scoring ODI hundreds at 34 different venues. Furthermore, this was his 11th instance of scoring centuries in back-to-back ODI innings, a record that dwarfs the second-placed AB de Villiers, who has done it six times.
Kohli's dominance against South Africa is now unparalleled. This was his seventh ODI century against the Proteas, the most by any batter, moving ahead of Tendulkar and David Warner. He is also the only batter besides Tendulkar to have scored seven or more centuries against four different nations: Sri Lanka (10), West Indies (9), Australia (8), and now South Africa (7).
His conversion rate remains staggering. Kohli has now turned 41.4% of his 50-plus scores (53 out of 128) into hundreds, the highest rate in ODI history for batters with over 100 innings.
Markram's Heroics Steal the Show
South Africa's chase was built around a superb century from captain Aiden Markram, who scored 110 runs. His knock provided the backbone for the chase, ensuring his team kept up with the demanding required rate. The Proteas' batting lineup held its nerve in the final overs to cross the line with four balls remaining, setting up a perfect finale for the series.
With the series poised at 1-1, all eyes will now be on the decisive third ODI at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
