Virat Kohli, with his 65 off 46 balls, turned a high-pressure series decider into another personal milestone and thus powered India to a nine-wicket victory over South Africa in Visakhapatnam. He sealed the chase with 61 deliveries remaining, and it was also his career-best ODI series, rewriting records held by AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni, and others.
Kohli’s half-century in this match also marked the fourth time in a row that he had scored one in the fifty overs format. He has now done this nine times- the highest number any cricketer has got till date. It was flawless batting from one and all fields- on-drives, running between-the-wickets, and calculated risks over the infield.
Kohli netted a sumptuous 302 runs in the three matches of the series, batting at an average of 151. He also hits hundreds of 135 and 102 in the first two games and accumulated his runs at a rate of 117.05. The ruling over the home team was complete and moderate, the one that elevates the dressing room.
A prominent topic that came up was power-hitting. In that series, Kohli hit 12 sixes, which made it the first time he had crossed the double-digit boundary in an entire ODI series or tournament. This remark has almost instantly proven his fresh course towards more aggressive play in the 2023 World Cup and also brings attention to the development of a white-ball strategy.
A world record in Visakhapatnam
Kohli was the first to make 600 runs in ODIs at the ACA-VDCA Stadium, and he now has 652 runs in eight matches at that ground. His average score there is an unbelievable 108.66, the highest by any player with 600 or more runs at a single ground. This surpasses AB de Villiers’ 91.50 at Johannesburg.
Very few players have their averages anywhere near that venue. The next best in Taylor’s case is 86.55 for Napier, and this also points out how remarkable Kohli’s ground dominance really is. The statistics point to an uncommon alignment of conditions and game scenarios at the coast.
Season-leading numbers and a Dhoni landmark
Kohli could secure the top position in the Indian charts by just one run, as he stood up with a tremendous 65.10 in 2025, earning him 652 ODI runs. In this calculation, we’re not including the 218 Champions Trophy runs and both the Player of the Match honors he won in the high-profile clashes against Pakistan and Australia.
His latest feat is that he was a part of over 600 ODI runs in the same year for the sixth time in his career and maintained an average of over 60. This achievement takes him beyond MS Dhoni’s previous highest five such years. AB de Villiers and Michael Bevan each account for four and only Kohli could keep the consistency for the most in the ladder for elite productivity.
An even greater triumph than Tendulkar’s accolades
Kohl’s Player of the Series in Visakhapatnam was the 22nd POTS/POTT of his international career, which is the highest ever. He is actually behind none other than the Indian legend Tendulkar, who has received the award 20 times. In the one-dayers too Kohli, POTS count is now standing at 12; Tendulkar stays ahead with 15, though the difference is getting narrower each time.
The accomplishment simply shows how Kohli often takes entire series into his own hands, not just single matches. He is setting the pace with his bat, leading chases, and making sure India’s winning probability is still getting higher and higher. It is as much a skill of making a play as of scoring goals worthily.
📹 Mighty Maximum – a 97m SIX from Virat Kohli 👀👀
Live – https://t.co/q4nA9Ff9Q2#INDvSL@mastercardindiapic.twitter.com/R3CzXTWBT5
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2023
One more time, yet another 4 consecutive fifties
Continuing in the series of making fifty ODI scores for the fourth time adds one more feather to his cap in the book of records. This notes the fact that he can make valuable contributions within a short time, which were constant features of India’s most successful one-day runs over the past decade.
Kohli’s rhythm was most noticeable in the all-important game. He smacked early boundaries to split the field, ran continuously, and then punished the bowlers once the ball lost its shine. He hit twelve sixes in the entire series, which could be seen as a silent but substantial reevaluation of the risk factor in decreasing his control.
For the Indian team, the inning also maintains the having of top-order stability during chases. He was the key man around whom the stands developed, and the rate of asking did not encounter an alarmingly high level at any time. The spectators’ leaving the ground with still 61 balls to be bowled was evidence of the team’s rule and achievable game plan as well.
De Kock’s counterpunch and a stack of records
Quinton de Kock was still making headlines from the opposing team. He made 106 in 80 balls, which was his seventh ODI century against India in only 23 innings, which is the same as Jayasuriya’s but in even fewer knocks. He also tied AB de Villiers for the most ODI tons by a visiting batsman in India, with seven.
In terms of batters with 100-plus ODI innings, de Kock is currently the only one to have the highest rate of conversion of fifties to hundreds at 41.81%, which surpasses Kohli’s 41.40% and Hashim Amla’s 40.91%. His 23 ODI hundreds as the primary wicketkeeper of the team are equal to what Kumar Sangakkara has to his name.
However, Kohli took home the series and all the accolades. The game seemed to be won with skill and power because Kohli set a record for a ground, led the year’s charts, and surpassed Dhoni and Tendulkar. With enormous tasks drawing closer, the tour seems to be off to a good start.
