Virat Kohli turned a series decider with a lot riding on it into another personal success, leading India to a nine-wicket win against South Africa in Visakhapatnam. His 65 off 46 balls finished the run-chase with 61 balls left, and was the best ODI series of his career, also beating records that AB de Villiers and MS Dhoni once held.
The innings was Kohli’s fourth straight ODI fifty – a run he’s now done nine times. No other player has had more than four of those in a row. It was strong batting from the very first ball, based on neat drives, a lot of running, and sensible chances taken when the ball was in the infield.
Kohli ended the three-match series with 302 runs at an average of 151. He made 135 and 102 in the first two games, at a strike rate of 117.05. It was full control and total dominance, the sort of form which stops people questioning you and raises the spirits of the team.
Hitting for power was a clear feature. Kohli hit 12 sixes in the series, the first time he has hit double-figures in maximums in any ODI series or tournament. This follows his more aggressive approach in the 2023 World Cup and shows a changing plan for white-ball cricket.
A world record in Visakhapatnam
Kohli also reached 600 ODI runs at the ACA-VDCA Stadium, and now has 652 in eight matches at that ground. His average there is an amazing 108.66 – the best by any player with over 600 runs at one ground. It beats AB de Villiers’ 91.50 at Johannesburg.
Only a few others come near. Ross Taylor’s 86.55 at Napier is next on the list of the best, showing how unusual Kohli’s control of a ground is. The figures show a rare feeling of being at home with the conditions and the state of the match on the east coast.
Best numbers for the year and a Dhoni record
Throughout 2025, Kohli finished with 652 ODI runs at 65.10, beating Rohit Sharma by one run to be India’s top run-scorer. This included 218 runs in the Champions Trophy, and two Player of the Match awards in important games against Pakistan and Australia.
He now has the most calendar years with 600+ ODI runs at a 60+ average – six. This puts him ahead of MS Dhoni’s five such seasons. AB de Villiers and Michael Bevan have four each, leaving Kohli alone at the top for lasting top-level performance.
Increasing the lead over Tendulkar in series awards
Kohli's Player of the Series in Visakhapatnam was the 22nd POTS/POTT of his international career – the most in history. This gives him a bigger lead over Sachin Tendulkar’s 20. In ODIs only, Kohli now has 12 POTS; Tendulkar leads that list with 15, but Kohli is getting closer.
This shows how often Kohli changes whole series, not just matches. He controls the speed of the batting, holds together chases, and keeps India’s chance of winning going up. It’s about knowing the game as much as just scoring runs.
Four in a row, again
Making four ODI fifties in a row for the ninth time adds another item to the record books. It shows his ability to make a lot of contributions one after the other – a feature of India’s most successful one-day teams over the last ten years.
Kohli’s speed stood out in the decider. He hit early boundaries to break up the field, ran constantly, and made the most of things once the ball had softened. The 12-sixes from the series shows a slight but important change in taking risks without giving up control.
For India, the innings proved the top order were certain in chases. Partnerships were made around him, and the rate at which runs were needed never went up too high. Finishing the series with 61 balls unused told its own story about control and a clear plan.
De Kock’s response and a stack of records
Quinton de Kock still made the news from the other team. His 106, reached in 80 balls, was his seventh ODI hundred against India in only 23 innings – matching Sanath Jayasuriya’s record in far fewer games. He also equaled AB de Villiers for the most ODI hundreds by a visiting player in India, with seven.
Among players with over 100 ODI innings, de Kock now has the highest rate of turning fifties into hundreds – 41.81%, beating Kohli’s 41.40% and Hashim Amla’s 40.91%. As a chosen wicketkeeper, his 23 ODI hundreds are the same as Kumar Sangakkara’s.
Kohli, though, left with the series and the attention. A ground record, a calendar-year lead, and a new record over Dhoni and Tendulkar showed a performance which was equal parts skill and power. With important games coming up, the engine looks really ready.
