India Posts 358/5: Virat Kohli Blazes 53rd ODI Century, Ruturaj Gaikwad Maiden Ton; Aiden Markram's 110 Keeps SA in Chase at Raipur
December 3, 2025 | India vs South Africa 2nd ODI | Raipur | Kohli's Resurgence | Gaikwad's Breakthrough
By Cricket & Sports Correspondent
ODI Cricket Analysis & Match Coverage Expert
Focus: India cricket, ODI series, Virat Kohli, centuries, match analysis
Virat Kohli's 53rd ODI century powers India; Ruturaj Gaikwad's maiden ton (105) propels hosts to 358/5; Aiden Markram's 110 sparks thrilling South Africa chase of 359 at Raipur.
In an extraordinary display of batting prowess that showcased India's depth and South Africa's fighting spirit, Virat Kohli struck his record-extending 53rd ODI century (102 off 90 balls) while Ruturaj Gaikwad announced his arrival at international cricket with a scintillating maiden ODI hundred (105 off 83 balls) as India posted a commanding 358 for 5 in the 2nd ODI at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur on December 3, 2025. The pair combined for a 195-run stand for the third wicket—India's highest partnership against South Africa, surpassing the previous record of 194 set by Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik in 2010.
However, South Africa mounted a formidable reply, with Aiden Markram blazing a stunning 110 (88 balls) to become the first visiting South African opener to score an ODI century in India in a decade, last achieved by Quinton de Kock in 2015[web:108][web:109]. Despite Markram's dismissal at a crucial juncture, South Africa remains firmly in contention with the chase on a knife-edge, setting up a dramatic climax in this high-scoring encounter.
However, South Africa mounted a formidable reply, with Aiden Markram blazing a stunning 110 (88 balls) to become the first visiting South African opener to score an ODI century in India in a decade, last achieved by Quinton de Kock in 2015[web:108][web:109]. Despite Markram's dismissal at a crucial juncture, South Africa remains firmly in contention with the chase on a knife-edge, setting up a dramatic climax in this high-scoring encounter.
India's Explosive Batting: 358/5 Scorecard
📊 INDIA INNINGS: 358/5 (50 overs)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma (Capt) | 32 | 28 | 3 | 1 | c Bavuma b Ngidi |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 18 | 24 | 2 | 0 | c Breetzke b Bosch |
| Virat Kohli | 102* | 90 | 7 | 2 | NOT OUT |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | 105 | 83 | 12 | 2 | c de Zorzi b Jansen |
| KL Rahul | 27 | 15 | 3 | 1 | b Markram |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 18 | 8 | 2 | 0 | NOT OUT |
INDIA TOTAL: 358/5 (50 overs)
Extras: 56 (Wides: 12, No-balls: 8, Byes: 36)
Did Not Bat: Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh
Kohli's Record: 53rd ODI century; 84th international century; 8th vs South Africa
Gaikwad's Record: Maiden ODI century; 2nd fastest ODI century by Indian vs SA (83 balls vs Yusuf Pathan 68 balls)
🎳 SOUTH AFRICA BOWLING
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lungi Ngidi | 10 | 78 | 1 |
| Marco Jansen | 10 | 85 | 1 |
| Corbin Bosch | 10 | 79 | 1 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 10 | 66 | 0 |
| Aiden Markram | 10 | 50 | 1 |
The Match: Kohli-Gaikwad Partnership & Key Moments
⚡ India's Early Collapse & Kohli-Gaikwad Recovery
- Early Trouble: India reduced to 62/2 after losing Rohit (32) and Jaiswal (18) in quick succession
- Gaikwad's Entry: Ruturaj Gaikwad walked in at number 4 to stabilize the innings
- Partnership Magnitude: 195-run stand for 3rd wicket between Kohli and Gaikwad
- Kohli's Century Celebration: Reached 53rd ODI hundred off 90 balls; 7 fours, 2 sixes; record-breaking 84th international ton
- Gaikwad's Breakthrough: Maiden ODI century off 83 balls; celebrated with helmet off, bat raised; 2nd fastest ODI century by Indian vs SA (behind Yusuf Pathan's 68-ball ton)
- Aggressive Approach: Both batsmen took calculated risks; Gaikwad particularly aggressive after reaching 50
🎯 Kohli's Record-Breaking Innings
- 53rd ODI Century: Extends all-time ODI century record; next best is Kumar Sangakkara (25 centuries)
- 84th International Century: Ranks among elite all-time scorers of international centuries
- 8th vs South Africa: Most centuries against any opponent; demonstrates dominance
- Consecutive Centuries: Back-to-back centuries in series (135 in 1st ODI, 102 in 2nd)
- Streak Record: 11 separate streaks of 2+ consecutive ODI centuries (next best AB de Villiers 6)
- Form Analysis: Kohli batting at #3; walked in during 5th over; imposed precision and tempo
💫 Gaikwad's Maiden Ton: Arrival at International Stage
- Breakthrough Performance: Scored 105 off 83 balls with 12 fours and 2 sixes
- CSK Captain Form: Translated IPL success to ODI cricket; highest List A average globally (58.02)
- Dismissal: Eventually caught by Tony de Zorzi off Marco Jansen
- Series Context: Bounced back after modest 8 runs in 1st ODI (Ranchi)
- Partnership Impact: Combined 207 runs; third-wicket stand India's strongest vs SA
South Africa's Chase: Markram's Century Keeps Proteas in Contest
Aiden Markram's Historic Hundred (110 off 88 balls)
| SA Batter | Runs | Balls | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton de Kock (wk) | 8 | 12 | c Jaiswal b Rana |
| Aiden Markram | 110 | 88 | c Gaikwad b Rana |
| Temba Bavuma (Capt) | 46 | 48 | b Jadeja |
| Matthew Breetzke | TBA | TBA | Match ongoing |
Markram's Historic Achievement
- First Visiting Opener Century in 10 Years: Last SA opener to score ODI century in India was Quinton de Kock in 2015
- First ODI Hundred as Opener: Markram's century came from opening position; his previous 3 centuries all from #4
- Performance Metrics: 110 off 88 balls; 10 boundaries, 4 sixes; disciplined start, explosive middle overs
- Dismissal Impact: Caught by Gaikwad off Harshit Rana; turning point in match; India regained momentum
- Chase Status: SA reached 197/3 after 30 overs when Markram departed; still required 162 from 20 overs with 7 wickets remaining
India's Bowling Response
- Harshit Rana's Key Strike: Disguised off-cutter that deceived Markram; removed most dangerous bat at critical moment
- Dew Factor: Evening dew made ground slippery, favoring chasing side; SA batsmen found ball skidding onto bat
- Bowling Pressure: India's seamers and spinners adapting to conditions; tight lines and lengths in crucial overs
Statistical Highlights: Records & Milestones
Kohli's Dominance Summary
| Record | Kohli's Value | Previous Record Holder |
|---|---|---|
| ODI Centuries | 53 | Kumar Sangakkara (25) |
| International Centuries | 84 | Ricky Ponting (63) |
| Centuries vs South Africa (ODI) | 8 | Most against any opponent |
| Streaks of 2+ Consecutive ODI Centuries | 11 | AB de Villiers (6) |
Partnership & Series Stats
- Kohli-Gaikwad Stand: 195 runs (3rd wicket) = India's highest partnership vs SA in ODIs
- Previous Record: Tendulkar-Karthik 194 runs (Gwalior, 2010)
- Series Kohli Stats: 237 runs in 2 ODIs (135 + 102); back-to-back centuries
- Gaikwad's List A Average: 58.02 (now world's highest), surpassing Michael Bevan (57.86)
UPSC & Competitive Exams: Cricket GK Topics
UPSC Prelims (Expected Questions)
- How many ODI centuries has Virat Kohli scored as of December 3, 2025? (A) 50 (B) 51 (C) 52 (D) 53
- Ruturaj Gaikwad's maiden ODI century came off how many balls? (A) 77 (B) 80 (C) 83 (D) 85
- Aiden Markram was the first visiting SA opener to score ODI century in India in how many years? (A) 5 (B) 8 (C) 10 (D) 15
- What is Virat Kohli's total international century count? (A) 78 (B) 80 (C) 82 (D) 84
Banking & SSC Exams (GK Topics)
- Which player holds the record for most ODI centuries? (A) Ricky Ponting (B) Kumar Sangakkara (C) Virat Kohli (D) Sachin Tendulkar
- India's highest partnership vs South Africa in ODI came between: (A) Kohli-Gaikwad (B) Tendulkar-Karthik (C) Sehwag-Dravid (D) Dhawan-Kohli
- Ruturaj Gaikwad's List A batting average is: (A) 52.5 (B) 55.3 (C) 58.02 (D) 60.1
Key Cricket Facts
- Virat Kohli: 53 ODI centuries; 84 international centuries; 11 streaks of 2+ consecutive ODI centuries
- Ruturaj Gaikwad: 2nd fastest ODI century by Indian vs SA (83 balls); highest List A average (58.02)
- Aiden Markram: First visiting SA opener to score ODI century in India in 10 years
- Partnership Record: Kohli-Gaikwad 195-run stand = India's highest vs SA
📝 Key Takeaways for Students:
- ✓ Virat Kohli's 53rd ODI century; 84th international hundred; back-to-back centuries in series
- ✓ Ruturaj Gaikwad's maiden ODI century (105) off 83 balls; 2nd fastest by Indian vs SA
- ✓ Kohli-Gaikwad 195-run partnership = India's highest vs SA (surpassed Tendulkar-Karthik 194)
- ✓ India posted 358/5; early collapse (62/2) recovered through partnership
- ✓ Aiden Markram scored 110 (88 balls); first visiting SA opener ODI century in India in 10 years
- ✓ Markram's dismissal at 197/3 (30 overs) turned match; SA needs 162 from 20 overs with 7 wickets
- ✓ Dew factor favoring chase; evening match dynamics in Raipur
— Match Report (In Progress) —
Sources:
- NDTV Sports, Sporting News, ESPN Cricinfo, CricBuzz, India Today Sports
- Hindustan Times, Indian Express, Rediff Cricket
- Official cricket scorecard databases and match reports
- December 3, 2025
