Mumbai: Virat Kohli is in sensational form in the ongoing three-match ODI series against South Africa, and the Indian superstar has a major milestone within reach. After scoring back-to-back centuries in Ranchi (November 30) and Raipur (December 3), the 37-year-old will look to register a third consecutive hundred in the series decider on December 6 in Visakhapatnam.
If Kohli hits another century at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium, he will equal Babar Azam’s rare record of scoring three consecutive ODI centuries twice in a career — a feat currently owned only by the Pakistan captain.
Kohli Chasing Babar Azam’s Unique Milestone
Babar Azam is the only player in cricket history to record three back-to-back ODI centuries on two separate occasions. Kohli has achieved the trio-on-the-trot landmark once (in 2018 against West Indies), and now has the opportunity to match Babar’s achievement.
Visakhapatnam offers Kohli the perfect stage; the venue has been one of his strongest ODI hunting grounds. He has scored three centuries in seven matches at the stadium.
List of Players With Three Consecutive ODI Centuries
So far, 12 batters have scored centuries in three consecutive ODIs. But only Babar Azam has done it twice. The list includes names such as Zaheer Abbas, Saeed Anwar, AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock, Ross Taylor, Kumar Sangakkara, Jonny Bairstow, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and others.
(Table omitted for clarity but can be added back on request.)
Sangakkara Holds the All-Time Record
While Kohli aims to join Babar in a rare category, the overall record for most consecutive ODI centuries belongs to Kumar Sangakkara, who smashed four back-to-back tons during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Another Record in Sight for Kohli
Apart from chasing Babar’s milestone, Kohli is also on the verge of breaking another record:
He currently has 15 scores of 50+ against South Africa in ODIs (7 hundreds, 8 fifties).
This is tied with Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara, meaning a single fifty-plus score in Vizag will give Kohli the all-time record for most 50+ scores against South Africa in ODIs.
All Eyes on Visakhapatnam Showdown
With the series level at 1-1, India will rely on Kohli’s red-hot form to clinch the decider. A century would not only help India win the series but also etch Kohli’s name into yet another chapter of ODI history.
