Kohli’s Century Not Enough as South Africa Stuns India in Raipur Thriller

The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur witnessed a rare spectacle on Wednesday as India lost to South Africa in the second ODI, despite Virat Kohli’s scintillating century. Kohli’s 102 off 93 balls—his maiden hundred at the venue—featured seven fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 109, marking his 53rd ODI century and 84th international ton.

It was also the 11th time he scored back-to-back ODI hundreds, with this seventh century against South Africa making him the only batter to have seven or more hundreds against four different opponents (10 vs SL, 9 vs WI, 8 vs AUS, 7 vs SA).

Kohli, along with Ruturaj Gaikwad, stitched a 195-run partnership for the third wicket, helping India post a challenging total of 359. However, Aiden Markram’s 110 off 98 balls, aided by steady contributions from Matthew Breetzke and Dewald Brevis, guided South Africa to a thrilling four-wicket victory with four balls to spare—the joint-highest successful ODI chase against India.

The loss ended a remarkable streak: it was India’s first defeat in 2,462 days when Kohli scored a century and the first time in eight years the team lost defending a total after his hundred. Kohli now has eight ODI centuries in losing causes, four of which came when India batted first.

Kohli’s stellar form in 2025 continues, with 586 runs in 12 innings at an average of 58.60 and a strike rate of 92.72, including three centuries and three fifties. His 135-run effort last week boosted him to fourth in the ICC ODI rankings, just 32 points shy of top-ranked Rohit Sharma.