Superlatives are at loss when it comes to describing Virat Kohli’s recent ODI form. After scoring a century in the first ODI at Durban and remaining unbeaten in the second ODI at Centurion, Kohli recorded his second hundred of the series at Cape Town. It was also his 34th overall. He is also the first Indian batsmen to score more than 100 runs without boundaries running during his knock at Cape Town. His 160* in the third ODI is also highest for an Indian batsman on South African soil, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s score of 152 in the 2003 World Cup against Namibia.
Highest scores by Indians in South Africa | ||||
Score | Batsman | Against | Venue | Season |
160* | Virat Kohli | South Africa | Cape Town | 2017-18 |
152 | Sachin Tendulkar | Namibia | Pietermaritzburg | 2002-03 |
146 | Sachin Tendulkar | Kenya | Paarl | 2001-02 |
127 | Sourav Ganguly | South Africa | Johannesburg | 2001-02 |
114 | WV Raman | South Africa | Centurion | 1992-93 |
This was also the second highest score by a captain in South Africa, only behind Ricky Ponting’s 164 in the record-breaking ODI between Australia and South Africa in 2005-06.
Highest scores by Indians in South Africa | ||||
Score | Batsman | Against | Venue | Season |
160* | Virat Kohli | South Africa | Cape Town | 2017-18 |
152 | Sachin Tendulkar | Namibia | Pietermaritzburg | 2002-03 |
146 | Sachin Tendulkar | Kenya | Paarl | 2001-02 |
127 | Sourav Ganguly | South Africa | Johannesburg | 2001-02 |
114 | WV Raman | South Africa | Centurion | 1992-93 |
This was Kohli’s 12th ODI hundred as captain. He is now only behind Ponting (22) and AB de Villiers (13).
Most hundreds as captain | ||
100s | Batsman | Team |
22 | Ricky Ponting | Australia |
13 | AB de Villiers | South Africa |
12 | Virat Kohli | India |
11 | Sourav Ganguly | India |
10 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka |
Where will he stop? Will he go past Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 49? One can only speculate.