Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Rewrite History in Ranchi ODI Thriller

The first ODI between India and South Africa in Ranchi delivered a historic spectacle as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli combined to shatter multiple records, further cementing their status as two of the greatest players of the modern era. Their brilliance, both individually and collectively, powered India to a commanding total and ultimately a thrilling victory in a match filled with milestones.

The landmark moment of the day came when Rohit and Kohli walked out together for their 392nd international appearance as teammates, surpassing the legendary pairing of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. This made them the most-capped Indian batting duo across formats, a testament to their longevity, consistency, and unmatched impact on Indian cricket over the last decade.

Rohit Sharma added another monumental achievement to his illustrious career when he smashed his 352nd ODI six, overtaking Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi to become the all-time leading six-hitter in ODI history, it gets even more special when the stats show that Rohit achieved this in lesser innings than Shahid Afridi. His brisk 57 off 51 balls at the top provided India the perfect foundation and underlined why he remains one of the most feared hitters in world cricket. This record highlights Rohit’s dominance and precision in the white-ball format.

If Rohit set the tone, Virat Kohli delivered the knockout blow. Playing one of his most fluent innings in recent years, Kohli hit a majestic 135 off 120 deliveries, registering his 52nd ODI century. With this ton, Kohli climbed above Sachin Tendulkar’s historic tally of 49 ODI tons and extended his lead as the batter with the most hundreds in a single international format. He also notched his sixth ODI century against South Africa, making him the top century-maker against the Proteas in ODIs.

Kohli’s innings featured seven towering sixes, pushing him past Ricky Ponting’s 217 sixes at the No. 3 position, giving him the record for most sixes hit by a No. 3 batter in international cricket. His mastery at this position, combined with his unmatched chasing and anchoring abilities, further solidified his reputation as the greatest ODI batter of his era.

Together, Rohit and Kohli stitched a crucial 136-run partnership, their 20th century stand in ODIs, placing them joint-second among all batting pairs globally. Their partnership helped India reach a formidable 349/8 and set up one of the highest-scoring ODIs ever played between India and South Africa, a match that produced a staggering 681 runs.

The Ranchi ODI was more than just a historic win; it was a statement of enduring excellence from India’s most iconic pair. Even after years at the top, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continue rewriting cricket’s biggest records, proving once again why they are the heartbeat of Indian cricket.