In what turned into a historic evening at the JSCA International Stadium, Virat Kohli delivered yet another batting masterpiece, smashing a majestic 135 off 120 balls against South Africa in the opening ODI of the series. His commanding knock not only powered India to a formidable 349/8 but also etched his name deeper into cricket’s record books.

Kohli’s century - his 52nd in ODI cricket - makes him the first player in history to score 52 hundreds in a single international format, surpassing all previous benchmarks and reaffirming his status as one of the modern era’s finest batsmen.

Walking in early at 25/1, Kohli steadied the innings with characteristic poise, stitching together a crucial 136-run partnership with Rohit Sharma. Their stand flipped the momentum entirely in India’s favor, setting the stage for a dominant total.

For millions of fans and cricket traditionalists, the knock was yet another reminder that even after years at the highest level, Virat Kohli’s hunger, precision, and finishing ability remain unmatched in world cricket.