To put it simply, Virat Kohli is playing as well as he ever has. In Raipur, he made a perfect 102 off 93 deliveries, getting his 53rd ODI hundred (and his second century in the last two matches). The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium was loud when he hit a single off Marco Jansen to reach the century mark.
Kohli came in to bat fairly early as the number three batsman and looked completely confident from the first ball. He got to his hundred in 90 balls, then sped up smoothly and controlled the innings as he usually does. He was out for 102 to Lungi Ngidi only after India had a solid base, and was on the way to a very large total.
Ruturaj Gaikwad also played calmly and scored 105. Together, Kohli and Gaikwad showed India’s current way of playing ODI cricket: a careful start, easily scoring singles, and then scoring more quickly at the end. The way they played together showed how dangerous this batting lineup is when the player who keeps the score going and the player who scores quickly are both doing well.
Century No. 53: routine brilliance, ruthless method
Getting a century in two consecutive matches is a big achievement, but Kohli made it look easy. The way he hit the ball through the covers, gently behind the point fielder, and pushed it into gaps… everything was just right. This wasn’t a quick burst of hitting; it was a brilliant display of timing, where he hit the ball, and how he dealt with the pressure from the South African bowlers.
What was most noticeable was how sure of himself he was. After a slight dip in form early in the series against Australia, Kohli has scored 101 in Kolkata, 135 in Ranchi, and now 102 in Raipur against South Africa. This string of scores is a reminder that when he’s in good form, he’s almost certain to score.
Cricket world reacts: ‘addicted to scoring hundreds’
Old teammates and opponents quickly praised Kohli’s 53rd century. Virender Sehwag joked that Kohli ‘is addicted to getting hundreds’ and treats them as something he does every day. Irfan Pathan added a funny comment, saying that the ‘King’ now outthinks the other team’s plans even on weekdays.
Mohammad Kaif said it was a typical Kohli innings, just like when he was at his very best in ODI cricket. Shreevats Goswami thought the innings was even better because the pitch was a bit difficult to bat on in the evening. Harbhajan Singh complimented Kohli and Gaikwad on how brilliantly they played. And the best way to describe the situation was: ‘A diamond lasts forever.’
Milestones that matter: records, venues, and a Tendulkar tie
This hundred in Raipur was the 11th time Kohli has scored centuries in two ODI matches in a row, which is more than anyone else. It also meant Raipur became the 34th different place where he’s scored a century in ODI cricket, putting him alongside Sachin Tendulkar for the number of ODI century venues.
He now has 84 centuries in international cricket, still behind Tendulkar, but well ahead of all the other current players. How much he’s increasing the distance between himself and the others with how consistently and cleverly he plays is impressive. He still has the same high quality as always, and he still wants to make even more records.
Anushka Sharma cheers, fans celebrate a new high
When Kohli reached his milestone, Anushka Sharma posted a simple red heart on Instagram, which got a lot of attention, and showed how proud she was. Lots of people from the world of sports and entertainment sent their congratulations, and fans celebrated another great achievement. Kohli doesn’t get as much attention on social media as many other athletes, and every time he reaches a milestone, even more* people talk about him.
They don’t show a lot of their personal lives, but the couple clearly take pride in each other’s accomplishments. For fans, the image of Kohli jumping in the air and Anushka quietly applauding felt like a perfect moment of sport and support.
What it means for India: clarity ahead of 2027
Kohli’s decision to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (domestic 50-over cricket) shows how serious he is. With the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa coming up, his plan for batting – to stay in, speed up the scoring, and finish the innings – is still very important to India’s chances. This performance in Raipur proves that the plan still works.
For now, it’s important for him to not play too much and to be at his best at important times. India’s top batsmen are very strong when Kohli sets the pace of the innings and players like Gaikwad score quickly. The combination of taking chances, scoring singles, and hitting powerfully was almost perfect in this game.
The headline that writes itself
Virat Kohli's 53rd ODI hundred wasn’re just a number. It showed that a great player is raising the standard with his skill and composure. If he continues to get centuries in two matches in a row, the opposing bowlers are going to have a difficult season. And as a popular phrase on the internet said: if it’s Virat Kohli, it’s possible.
