Virat Kohli Sets New ODI Record, Surpasses Sachin Tendulkar

Virat Kohli made cricket history on November 30, 2023, by scoring an impressive 135 runs off 120 balls in the first One Day International (ODI) against South Africa at the Jharkhand Cricket Association (JCA) in Ranchi. His performance guided India to a narrow 17-run victory, giving the team a 1-0 lead in the series.

With this innings, the 37-year-old Kohli claimed his 52nd ODI century, breaking the previous record of 51 centuries held by legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli now stands as the player with the most centuries in a single format of cricket, further solidifying his status in the sport.

Kohli Shines in Ranchi

During the match, Kohli reached a remarkable milestone by surpassing 500 runs at the JCA Stadium in Ranchi. In just six games at this venue, he has amassed a total of 519 runs, boasting an extraordinary average of 173. This includes three centuries and one half-century. Kohli’s consistency at Ranchi makes him the first player to score over 500 runs at six different stadiums, a record previously shared with Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, Kumar Sangakkara, and Dean Jones.

The list of players who have achieved this feat at multiple venues highlights Kohli’s dominance in ODIs:

• Virat Kohli: 6 – Ranchi, Pune, Visakhapatnam, Mirpur, Colombo, Trinidad
• Sachin Tendulkar: 5 – Gwalior, Bengaluru, Dhaka, Colombo, Sharjah
• Kumar Sangakkara: 5 – Hambantota, Colombo, Dambulla, Sharjah, Dhaka
• Dean Jones: 5 – Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth
• Jacques Kallis: 5 – Durban, Cape Town, Gqeberha, Centurion, Johannesburg

Kohli’s exceptional performance in Ranchi also makes him the first player globally to score over 500 runs at three different stadiums in India. Previously, he shared this achievement with Tendulkar, who reached this milestone at Gwalior’s Captain Roop Singh Stadium and Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Notably, no player from the Indian team or any visiting team has managed to score 500 runs at any other ground in India.

Breaking Long-Standing Records

Kohli’s average of 173 at Ranchi marks the highest by any player at a stadium in their home country, where they have scored a minimum of 500 runs. This record previously belonged to Dean Jones, who maintained an average of 112.60 at Adelaide for over 33 years. Kohli’s remarkable achievement is part of a broader context, with only 208 instances of a player scoring over 500 runs at a venue in their home country.

The best averages at grounds in ODI cricket, where players have scored at least 500 runs, include:

• Virat Kohli: 173.00 – 519 runs at Ranchi (2013-2025)
• Dean Jones: 112.60 – 563 runs at Adelaide (1984-1992)
• Virat Kohli: 97.83 – 587 runs at Visakhapatnam (2010-2023)
• AB de Villiers: 91.50 – 732 runs at Johannesburg (2006-2018)
• Ross Taylor: 86.55 – 779 runs at Napier (2006-2019)

In terms of averages at grounds, Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman holds a remarkable average of 257.50 at Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, showcasing his own stellar performances. Kohli will have the opportunity to further enhance his record as India prepares for the third ODI against South Africa at Visakhapatnam on December 6, where he has already scored 587 runs in seven innings, including three centuries and two half-centuries.

Kohli’s latest triumph not only adds to his illustrious career but also reinforces his status as one of cricket’s all-time greats.