Virat Kohli century (Source: AFP Photos)
In ODI format, there are some greats, and then there is Virat Kohli. A fearless talent with unreal skill, he dared to break Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI century record and crafted a legacy that will be hard to surpass in the future.
As India and South Africa are all set for a thrilling three-match Test series, their ODI encounters in the past have always entertained the fans. Among those classics, nothing beats India’s first-ever ODI series triumph on South African soil, a historic moment powered brilliantly by Virat Kohli.
In the third ODI between two cricketing giants, Kohli’s spectacular 160-run knock fueled the Men In Blue to register a massive ODI victory. Let’s take a walk down memory lane to Kohli’s brilliance that floored the Proteas on their home soil.
King Kohli’s epic 160* shakes Protea pride
Facing the mighty Proteas on the challenging South African conditions with unreal pace and bounce is not easy. Whenever a team takes on South Africa, cricket fans know a thriller is guaranteed. And when India and the Proteas lock horns in limited-overs cricket, the drama, chaos, and nail-biting finishes always hit a whole new level.
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In 2018, India travelled to South Africa for a thrilling ODI series. The Proteas aimed for another dominating series win, but the men in Blue touched down on the continent, intending to turn the tables. Starting the ODI series with two consecutive victories, the world paused during the third ODI as Virat Kohli tore apart the Protea bowling department almost singlehandedly.
While batting first, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan came to open the innings, but Team India faced an early setback after the Hitman walked away on a six-ball duck. After that, Kohli joined Dhawan, and the Proteas felt the heat. The duo swung their bat hard, and Team India got a huge boost.
Pushing India hard, King Kohli smashed a half-century in 64 deliveries and sharpened his weapons more. Dominating the opponent now, King smashed a magnificent hundred in just 119 runs. Facing the assault, the South African bowlers tried everything, but Kohli named the day after him.
As the other Indian batters failed to make an impact, Virat Kohli didn’t let the Protea bowlers dominate them. After a spectacular hundred, he crossed the 150-run mark in just 157 deliveries. By the end of 50 overs, India stacked up 303 runs, with Kohli standing tall on a jaw-dropping 160* off 159 balls, laced with 12 fours and 2 sixes.
Men in Blue secure a massive win, history follows their way
On that day, when India was struggling, captain Virat Kohli stepped into the big stage and led the side with all courage. Defending the total, when the Indian bowlers stepped into the field, South Africa’s struggle became even harder. After Bumrah sent Hashim Amla away in just 1 run, Protea felt an early setback.
Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav turned the match into a spin carnival, ripping through South Africa’s lineup with four wickets each. With that domination, South Africa ended their first innings in just 179 runs, and the Men in Blue registered a massive 124-run victory.
Wth the victory, Team India took a 3-0 lead in the six-match ODI series. Though South Africa bounced back in the next match, Team India won the last two matches and secured the victory by a 5-1 margin. It may look like just another series win, but for India, it was a history-making milestone.
Facing the South African side for the first time in 1991-92, Team India had to wait for years to register their first-ever ODI series victory on Protea soil. Virat Kohli lit up the tour with a historic batting masterclass, becoming the first Indian captain to conquer an ODI series in South Africa. That triumph didn’t just break a curse; it turned the India-South Africa rivalry into an iconic chapter of ODI history.
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