In a breath-taking display of endurance and skill, Virat Kohli struck his 54th ODI century on Sunday at the Holkar Stadium, turning a daunting chase into a historic individual showcase. While India ultimately fell short of New Zealand’s massive target of 337, Kohli’s 124 off 108 balls solidified his status as the greatest ever to bat at the number three position.
This innings was more than just a century; it was a statistical takeover. By crossing 12,655 runs at the number three spot, Kohli officially surpassed Australian legend Ricky Ponting to become the highest run-scorer in ODI history at the no. 3 position.
India’s chase of 337 seemed dead in the water after a top-order collapse left the hosts reeling at 71 for four. Kohli, however, recalibrated the innings with clinical precision. He found able support in the youth, first stitching an 88-run stand with Nitish Kumar Reddy (53) and then a blistering 99-run partnership with Harshit Rana (52).
This performance marks Kohli’s 85th international century, bringing him ever closer to the mythical century of centuries. His dominance on home soil is particularly staggering, with this being his 41st ton in India.
Kohli’s century breakdown by opponent:
Sri Lanka: 10
West Indies: 9
Australia: 8
South Africa: 7
New Zealand: 7
Additionally, Kohli now stands alone at the top of the list for the most ODI centuries against the Black Caps.
| Player | Centuries | Innings |
|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli (India) | 7 | 36 |
| Ricky Ponting (Australia) | 6 | 50 |
| Virender Sehwag (India) | 6 | 23 |
| Sachin Tendulkar (India) | 5 | 41 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) | 5 | 45 |