On a day that Virat Kohli scored his 52nd century in the One-Day International format — scoring 135 runs off 120 balls in the first ODI at Ranchi — and went past the legendary Sachin Tendulkar for most centuries in a single international format, another Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar had no qualms in declaring that Kohli was the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) in the ODI format.
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Tendulkar has struck 51 Test centuries in his career, which was overtaken by Kohli’s 52nd ODI ton on Sunday.
Kohli had overhauled Tendulkar’s ODI century tally (49) during India’s 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium. Kohli’s ton was also his 25th ODI century at home, thus making him the first player to reach the landmark in the 50-over format.
VIRAT KOHLI
1st ODI vs South Africa | JSCA International Stadium, Ranchi
52nd
ODI Century | Record-Extending
6 Records Broken in Single Innings
👑
52
Most centuries in single international format (surpassed Tendulkar’s 51 Test centuries)
🏏
52
Most ODI centuries ever (record-extending)
🏠
25
ODI centuries at home (first player to reach this milestone)
🇿🇦
6
ODI centuries vs South Africa (most by any batter, surpassed Tendulkar’s 5)
💪
218
Sixes at number three across formats (surpassed Ponting’s 217)
🤝
20
Century partnerships with Rohit in ODIs (joint 2nd most, 136-run stand)
Match Context
1st
Century since CT 2025
Indian Express InfoGenIE
When Gavaskar was asked at the end of India’s innings if he would say that Kohli is the G.O.A.T in the ODI format, the Indian cricket legend replied: “I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. I mean, it’s not just me. I think those who have played with him and against him, they all agree that he is the greatest in the one-day format. Look, you scored 52 hundreds. That actually sets you up right up there in stratosphere, so to speak. I just heard that Ricky Ponting said that Kohli’s the best that he’s seen in one-day cricket. I mean, when an Australian captain says that — and everyone will agree that it is rare, very rare to get praise from an Australian — that Kohli was the best, then I don’t think there’s any argument with that. I’m also, you know, Sachin has been absolutely right up there with 51 hundreds. But when you pass the great Sachin Tendulkar, then you know where you stand,” Gavaskar said on JioHotstar.
India’s Virat Kohli celebrating his 52nd ODI century during first One-Day International against South Africa in Ranchi. (BCCI)
Gavaskar was also full of praise for Kohli’s innings at Ranchi.
“He understands his game very well, that’s the key. I think as a batter sometimes you see other players and you think, look I can bat like him. But no, he’s got a different pickup, different way of bringing the bat speed down. You’ve got to know what is your strength as a batter. This is my strength, I know this is what I can do well and you stick to that. And that’s what Kohli does. You see that he does not, even when the off spinner was bowling, he wasn’t looking, Rohit Sharma hit him mid-wicket. But Kohli hit it straight towards long on, straight bat. He didn’t try to do like Sharma did. That is the key, knowing his strength, sticking to it, because he knows he’s got how many runs in that. He’s got 51 centuries and now 52nd. So he knows the way he plays is best suited for him,” Gavaskar said.