Ranchi: The future of Virat Kohli in international cricket has come under scrutiny ahead of the series against Australia, with speculation suggesting it could be his final international engagement. However, Kohli quashed these rumors by showcasing his prowess in the final ODI of the series in Sydney, where he formed a match-winning partnership of 168 runs with Rohit Sharma. Despite facing challenges in the first two matches, he found his rhythm in the third ODI, scoring an unbeaten 74 runs, and aims to carry this momentum into the upcoming series against South Africa, which begins on November 30.
Kohli is on the brink of eclipsing another record held by Sachin Tendulkar, as he is merely one century away from achieving this milestone. Both legends are currently tied at 51 centuries in a single format—Tendulkar’s in Tests and Kohli’s in One Day Internationals (ODIs). A century in the forthcoming series against South Africa would position Kohli to set the record for most centuries in a single format.
Statistically, Kohli has a remarkable track record against South Africa. In 29 ODI innings, he has accumulated 1,504 runs, averaging 65.39 with a strike rate of 85.74. Notably, he has scored five centuries against the Proteas, including one in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Moreover, India aims to secure a vital series victory to regain momentum in international cricket. The team recently experienced a defeat in the ODI series against Australia and faced a 2-0 loss in the Test series against the South African team, led by Temba Bavuma. Both players and the coaching staff are under considerable pressure to deliver improved results; failure to do so may prompt significant changes within the team.
The first ODI will take place in Ranchi, followed by the second ODI in Raipur on December 3 and the final match in Visakhapatnam on December 6.
