India Lose an ODI for the First Time in 2,462 Days Despite a Virat Kohli Century

Virat Kohli’s Record-Breaking Century Overshadowed by Last-Over Defeat

Virat Kohli’s brilliance lit up the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, where a rare and dramatic moment unfolded on Wednesday night as India lost an ODI despite his century—an occurrence not seen in nearly six years. The second ODI between India and South Africa delivered high-quality cricket, last-over suspense, and a historic outcome that stunned Indian fans.

Kohli Shines With a Record-Breaking Century

Virat Kohli once again demonstrated his brilliance with a magnificent 93-ball 102, marking his second consecutive century in the ongoing series. His innings included seven fours and two sixes, played at a strike rate of over 109, and was his maiden century at the Raipur venue.
This landmark ton was Kohli’s 53rd ODI century, 84th international hundred, and also the 11th time he has scored centuries in back-to-back ODI innings. With this, he became the only batter in cricket history to score seven or more ODI centuries against four different opponents—Sri Lanka (10), West Indies (9), Australia (8), and South Africa (7).

Kohli, along with Ruturaj Gaikwad, stitched a brilliant 195-run partnership for the third wicket, helping India post an imposing total of 359. Their stand powered India to what seemed a winning position, with the Raipur crowd erupting with every boundary from Kohli’s bat.

South Africa Script a Stunning Chase

However, South Africa had other plans. Their chase was anchored by captain Aiden Markram, who played one of the finest ODI innings of his career—a superb 98-ball 110. He was well supported by opener Matthew Breetzke and youngster Dewald Brevis, both of whom struck composed half-centuries.
The Proteas timed their chase to perfection, maintaining a steady scoring rate and keeping wickets in hand for the final push. In the end, they reached the target with four balls to spare, completing the joint-highest successful run chase against India in ODI history.

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A Rare Defeat Amid Kohli Brilliance

India’s loss marked a highly unusual statistical moment. It was the first time in 2,462 days—dating back to March 8, 2019—that India lost an ODI match in which Kohli scored a century. That previous instance came against Australia in Ranchi, where India fell short despite Kohli’s 123 off 95 balls.

It was also the first defeat in eight years for India when defending a total after a Kohli century—the last one occurring in October 2017 at the Wankhede, against New Zealand.

Overall, Kohli now has eight ODI centuries in losing causes, four of which came when India batted first. Despite the team result, experts continue to admire Kohli’s consistency and impact across formats.

Kohli’s Exceptional Form in 2025

The year 2025 has been outstanding for Kohli. In 12 ODI innings, he has amassed 586 runs at an impressive average of 58.60 and a strike rate of 92.72. His tally includes three centuries and three half-centuries, reflecting his continued dominance in international cricket.

Just last week, his 135-run knock propelled him to fourth place in the ICC ODI rankings, putting him only 32 points behind top-ranked Rohit Sharma. As India look ahead to upcoming series and tournaments, Kohli’s form remains one of their brightest positives.

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A Match to Remember

While the result was a disappointment for Indian fans, the contest in Raipur will be remembered for its intensity, brilliant batting displays, and the breaking of a rare six-year streak. With Kohli’s sublime form and India’s strong batting lineup, the team will look to bounce back quickly in the remaining matches of the series.

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