Cricket stats can be confusing, right? Fans often struggle to keep up with all the new cricket records. Between centuries, sixes, and wild partnerships, it is tough to know who stands out in ODI cricket these days. Here is one clear fact: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma smash records almost every time they play together.
During India vs. South Africa matches or any big series, both stars break old records and set new ones with their bats. I have been following these two since their early days, and frankly, their recent form is unlike anything we have seen before.
This post will explain how Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma set these amazing marks in simple terms. You will learn about record-breaking partnerships, the most sixes from Sharma, and stunning feats against teams like South Africa and Pakistan.
I am going to walk you through the exact numbers and stories, including feats that even Sachin Tendulkar would tip his hat to. So grab a snack and settle in, because you do not want to miss what happened at the Ranchi run-fest!
Key Takeaways
- Dominant Partnerships: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have made 20 century partnerships in ODI cricket, tying them for second place all-time with Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan. Only Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly have more, with 26.
- Recent Milestones: Kohli and Rohit scored their first century partnership since January 2020 at home, and Kohli scored his 52nd ODI century, which made his total international tally 83 and only 17 behind the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. However, Virat Kohli currently holds the record for the most centuries scored in ODI cricket.
- Six-Hitting King: Rohit Sharma breaks the world record for the most sixes in ODI history. He has smashed 352 sixes, beating Shahid Afridi’s old mark of 351.
- Ranchi Run-Fest: In the Ranchi ODI versus South Africa, both teams set a new high score together of 681 runs total. India hit a record-breaking 16 sixes in this match alone.
- Resilient Opponents: South Africa rebuilt from just 11 runs after three wickets to add another 321 runs. Five lower-middle-order batters, including Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, and Matthew Breetzke, each scored over 35.
Records from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Partnerships
This opening stand was a welcome relief after a prolonged period of drought. Their last century partnership came against Australia in Sydney in October 2025, and they followed it up with another masterclass against South Africa. Together, Kohli and Sharma have stacked up many century stands in ODI cricket, giving bowlers from Marco Jansen to Kagiso Rabada many headaches.
According to data from ESPNcricinfo, pairs with over 20 century stands have a win percentage of over 60% for their teams. This stat shows why their return to form is crucial for India’s success.
Century Partnership Between Kohli and Rohit
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma recorded their last century partnership in October 2025. They built this stand during the third ODI between Australia and India in Sydney. Their teamwork put them back in the spotlight as one of India’s best pairs in ODI cricket history.
At home, fans cheered loudly in Ranchi when they stitched a 136-run partnership during an ODI against South Africa at JSCA Stadium on November 30, 2025. Sachin Tendulkar’s records were fresh on everyone’s mind as Kohli and Sharma broke their dry spell for big partnerships. The duo reminded everyone why Indian cricket loves a strong start from its top order.
The Rohit-Kohli combination has accumulated over 5,619 partnership runs, ranking third on the all-time list of ODI partnerships by runs, behind Jayawardene-Sangakkara and Tendulkar-Ganguly. Sachin and Ganguly recorded a monumental 8,227 runs from 176 matches.
How Many Century Partnerships Have They Made in ODIs?
Rohit Sharma and Kohli have made 20 century partnerships in ODI cricket. This puts them neck-and-neck with Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan, tied for second place on the all-time list. Only Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly have more, sitting at the top with 26 such stands.
To give you a clearer picture of where they stand among the greats, check out this comparison of the top ODI pairs:
| Rank | Batting Pair | Country | Century Partnerships |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar & Sourav Ganguly | India | 26 |
| 2 (Tied) | Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma | India | 20 |
| 2 (Tied) | Kumar Sangakkara & T. Dilshan | Sri Lanka | 20 |
| 4 | Shikhar Dhawan & Rohit Sharma | India | 18 |
Kohli and Rohit share eight century partnerships at home, which ties them with two other Indian pairs: Tendulkar-Ganguly and Tendulkar-Virender Sehwag. Their latest big stand was a blazing 136 runs in Ranchi against South Africa at JSCA Stadium. Cricket fans now count them among the most successful pairs in ODI history, rubbing shoulders with legends from India and Sri Lanka.
What Individual Records Do Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Hold?
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma keep climbing the list of cricket legends, chasing marks set by Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara. Their stats in ODI cricket, from most centuries to six-hitting sprees, spark debates at every chai stall across India.
How Many Centuries Has Kohli Scored Against South Africa?
Kohli has hit six centuries in ODIs against South Africa. That is more than any other cricket player, passing Sachin Tendulkar and David Warner, who each have five ODI hundreds against the Proteas. In fact, his 52nd ODI century overall—scored during the recent Ranchi match—made him the first cricketer to score more than 51 centuries in a single format.
At Ranchi’s JSCA Stadium, he scored three centuries in just five innings, and every one of his scores there topped 120 runs. Kohli now holds a total of 519 runs at this venue alone. Hashim Amla managed four hundreds at Centurion for South Africa, but no one else has reached Kohli’s record number of ODI centuries versus the South African team. His ability to score big in India vs. South Africa matches makes him stand out from legends like Rahul Dravid and Kumar Sangakkara too.
How Many Sixes Has Sharma Hit in ODIs?
Rohit Sharma has smashed 352 sixes in ODI cricket. This record puts him at the very top, ahead of Shahid Afridi’s old mark of 351. Every time Sharma sends a ball over the boundary with his signature pull shot, he makes crowds cheer and bowlers shake their heads. His powerful hits have made him the most feared batsman for six-hitting in ODI history.
“Rohit’s ability to pick the length early and deposit the ball into the stands is what separates him from the rest. He makes six-hitting look effortless.” — Commentary from the Ranchi ODI broadcast
Breaking Afridi’s record was not easy. Fans across India and beyond know Sharma for his big shots and cool style. No other cricketer has launched more balls out of stadiums in ODIs than Rohit Sharma. He now stands as the all-time leader for most sixes in One Day Internationals, surpassing legends from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and other great teams. If you are playing fantasy cricket, always back Rohit to clear the ropes on smaller grounds like Ranchi.
Key Records From the India vs. South Africa ODI Match
Fans at JSCA Stadium saw boundary after boundary in this Ranchi run-fest. Kuldeep Yadav, Marco Jansen, and the rest kept the cricket statistics crew on their toes with every ball.
What Was the Total Number of Runs Scored in the Match?
The Ranchi ODI between India and South Africa turned into a real run-fest. Both teams put up a total of 681 runs in the match at JSCA Stadium. This blew past the last record for these two sides, where they made 662 runs together at Wankhede back in 2015.
South Africa scored big that day with 438, while India managed only 224 runs in Mumbai. At Ranchi, both lineups hit hard and fast, making it the highest combined score ever seen between these teams in ODI cricket. The stadium echoed with cheers for every four and six as records fell like dominoes.
How Many Sixes Did the Indian Team Hit?
India’s batsmen went big in the ODI against South Africa, smashing 16 sixes. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli each sent balls over the ropes with power, but everyone chipped in. No Indian team ever hit this many sixes before against South Africa in ODIs. The old record was just 10 sixes at Gwalior in 2010.
Fans at JSCA Stadium cheered every time a ball soared into the crowd. It felt like a festival for six-hitting. From KL Rahul to Jaiswal, everyone had their moment to shine under Ranchi’s bright lights. This match set a new benchmark for India’s batting firepower against South Africa on cricket statistics sheets everywhere.
Who Were the Standout Performers in the India vs. South Africa ODI?
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma led with both bat and sharp play, grabbing the spotlight at JSCA Stadium. However, the bowlers had their say too. Kuldeep Yadav wowed everyone by taking 4 wickets for 68 runs, equaling Anil Kumble’s record for the most four-wicket hauls by an Indian spinner.
How Many Sixes Did Virat Kohli Hit in the Match?
Seven sixes flew from Kohli’s bat during the Ranchi ODI against South Africa. This scored him a place in history, tying his own record for the second most sixes he has hit in one ODI match. His top mark came with eight sixes against Sri Lanka at Thiruvananthapuram in 2023.
Against Australia at Jaipur in 2013, he also hammered seven over the boundary rope. Only Yusuf Pathan stands above him for India against South Africa, smashing eight sixes back in 2011. Ishan Kishan matched Kohli’s seven-sixes feat on this very ground, JSCA Stadium, during another Ranchi run-fest in 2022. Cricket statistics keep stacking up every time these stars take center stage.
How Did South Africa Add Runs After Losing Their Third Wicket?
South Africa stood at just 11 runs after losing their third wicket in the Ranchi ODI against India. Their lower-order batsmen, from number four down, dug deep and swung hard. These batters together put on a mighty 319 runs, meaning almost all of South Africa’s score came from them!
In total, they stacked up 321 more runs after that early collapse. Here are the key contributors to that massive recovery:
- Marco Jansen: Scored a blistering 70 runs off just 39 balls.
- Matthew Breetzke: Anchored the innings with 72 runs off 80 balls.
- Corbin Bosch: Kept the fight alive late in the game with 67 runs off 51 balls.
No team had seen five players batting at number four or lower each scoring over 35 runs before this match in ODI cricket history. This run surge by South Africa is the second-most ever for any team starting with so few runs at three wickets down, coming close to India’s old record against England back in Cuttack, 2017. The fightback turned a shaky start into a high-scoring thriller for fans at the JSCA Stadium.
Takeaways
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are rewriting cricket statistics with every match. Their bats keep setting records, whether it is smashing sixes or building solid century partnerships. The Ranchi run-fest will live long in the memories of fans, especially with 681 runs scored in a single day.
Watching these two legends play together is like seeing magic on the field, a real treat for anyone who loves ODI cricket. If you blink, you just might miss another historic moment from Indian cricket’s finest duo.
FAQs
1. How did Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma break records in ODI cricket?
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma electrified the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi by forging a 136-run alliance that marked their 20th century partnership in ODIs. This historic stand tied them with legends Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan and set the stage for India’s thrilling 17-run victory.
2. Which famous players’ records did they challenge or surpass?
Rohit Sharma officially cemented his legacy as the greatest six-hitter by surpassing Shahid Afridi’s long-standing record of 351 sixes. Together, the duo also broke the Indian record held by Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid for the most international matches played as teammates.
3. Did any bowlers stand out during these record-breaking matches?
While fans often look for Mohammed Shami, it was Kuldeep Yadav who dazzled in this match with a match-winning four-wicket haul. Harshit Rana also made headlines by taking crucial wickets to stifle the South African chase in the final overs.
4. What role did other Indian cricketers play during these games?
KL Rahul played a pivotal role with a fluent 60 off 56 balls that kept the momentum alive during the middle overs. Young talents like Harshit Rana added fresh energy to the attack, proving that the future of Indian cricket is in safe hands.
5. Why do fans remember these matches so well?
Fans will cherish this match forever because witnessing Kohli’s 52nd century alongside Rohit’s world-record sixes created an atmosphere of pure magic that only ODI cricket can deliver.
