The opening clash of the 3-match ODI series between India and South Africa saw Virat Kohli achieve another exceptional record to his name. On Sunday (November 30), the Indian batting stalwart once again proved his worth as the ‘King of Cricket’, recording his 52nd ODI century at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi.

Tallying upto 52 ODI centuries, the former Indian skipper now holds the record of scoring the most hundreds in a single format of international cricket. The 37-year-old surpassed his idol and former legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar’s record (51 centuries in tests).

Notably, no other cricketers managed to even reach 50 tons in a single format. So, the single-format record now entirely belongs to King Kohli.

10 Cricketers with Most Centuries in a Single Format ft. Kohli

Here is how Virat Kohli leads the charts by amassing the most centuries in a single format ever since his international debut in 2008:

Batters With Most Centuries in ODIs ft. Virat Kohli

Here is how Virat Kohli proved himself as the Master of ODIs by compiling the most tons in the format:

Back in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, Virat Kohli notched his 50th ODI century and overtook Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 49 tons in the format.

In the Champions Trophy 2025, the run-machine Kohli scored his 51st ODI century against Pakistan in the group stages. Recently, his 135-run knock against South Africa ultimately saw him break yet another record of Sachin once again.

Kohli’s Improved Records of Overall Centuries in International Cricket

Virat Kohli accomplished his 83rd international century (ODIs: 52, Tests: 30, and T20Is: 1), which ranks him strongly in the second position in the all-time great list. As Sachin Tendulkar is the current record holder with 100 international tons (Tests: 51, ODIs: 59), Kohli is now just 17 centuries away from tallying the Master Blaster’s historical milestone.

Having retired from T20Is and Tests, the veteran batter at the age of 37 is currently active in only one format of his international career. With fewer ODIs remaining ahead of the 2027 World Cup, it is understood that Sachin’s record of 100 international centuries remains untouched, with Kohli having an uphill task to overtake it.

Here are the top five batters who accumulated the most tons across all formats, with Tendulkar topping the list:

‘G.O.A.T of ODI Cricket’: Former Indian Cricketer Hailed Kohli

Indian legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar heaped praises on Virat Kohli after he surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s lifetime record:

“Definitely! There is no doubt that he (Kohli) is the greatest in the ODI format. It’s not just me, but rather those who played with him or against him agree that he is the G.O.A.T. of 50-over cricket.

As you have scored 52 ODI tons, this sets you right there in the upper atmosphere. Earlier, Sachin was right there with 51 centuries, but when you surpass the Master Blaster’s record, you will come to know about your caliber,” Gavaskar said.

Kohli’s 52nd ODI Ton: Most Memorable Performance of His Career

After losing the toss, Team India were invited to bat first and compiled a mammoth first innings total of 349/8 in 50 overs. Thanks to Virat Kohli’s blistering 135-run knock off 120 deliveries (including 11 fours and 7 sixes), which helped the hosts set a challenging target on the Ranchi pitch.

Following Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal (18 runs), Kohli built a game-changing partnership of 136 alongside Rohit Sharma (57 runs) for the second wicket. Additionally, his 76-run stand with KL Rahul (60 runs) steered India closer to the 300-run mark.

Virat’s innings came at a crucial time to silence the critics who questioned his form and ability to take part in the forthcoming ODI World Cup 2027. Ultimately, the veteran batter proves to the world that his age has no bearing on his form or fitness.