Virat Kohli’s Ranchi Rampage: 135* Masterclass Steals the Show in IND vs SA ODI 2025!
November 30, 2025, JSCA International Stadium, Ranchi – Picture this: South Africa wins the toss, elects to bowl on a pitch that looks like it was baked in a tandoor, thinking they’ve got the edge. Fast forward 43 overs, and India are cruising at 278-5. Why? Because Virat Kohli decided today was the day to remind everyone why he’s the undisputed King of ODIs. His blistering 135 off 120 balls – complete with 11 fours and a whopping 7 sixes – wasn’t just an innings; it was a demolition derby on the cricket field.
From the moment he walked in at 25-1, Kohli turned the screws. South African bowlers? More like piñatas waiting to be whacked. By the end, Nandre Burger had figures that screamed “send help” (9-0-48-2), and Prenelan Subrayen was leaking 73 runs in 10 overs like a faulty garden hose. But let’s not get ahead – this is the story of Virat Kohli’s innings, served with a side of laughs, stats, and pure cricket porn. Buckle up, folks; it’s going to be a 1500-word joyride.
The Arrival: When Kohli Walked In and the Stadium Held Its Breath
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s early fireworks (18 off 16, with a six that nearly kissed the clouds) ended abruptly, caught by Quinton de Kock off Nandre Burger. Rohit Sharma, the Hitman, joined the party and together they stitched a 136-run stand that had Ranchi roaring. But when Rohit fell LBW to Marco Jansen for a classy 57 (51 balls, 5×4, 3×6), the score was 161-2 in 21.2 overs. Enter Virat Kohli at No. 3.
The crowd? Electric. The air? Thick with anticipation. Kohli, fresh off his Test retirement in May 2025 and a Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year, hadn’t played an ODI since that unbeaten 74 in Australia. Whispers of “form dip” were doing the rounds, but Kohli? He just adjusted his gloves, stared down the bowler, and thought, “Hold my belti.”
First ball from Jansen: A tentative prod, dot ball. Second ball: Flicked wristily for a single. By the end of that over, you could sense it – the beast was awakening. Little did South Africa know, this was the start of a 135-run masterclass that would etch Ranchi into Kohli lore.
Building the Fireworks: The Rohit Partnership and Early Assault
Kohli’s opening gambit was a 136-run alliance with Rohit – their 20th century stand in ODIs, tying the second-most ever (behind Sachin-Sourav’s 26). Rohit was all elegance: those helicopter pulls, the lofted covers. Kohli? Controlled chaos. He reached his fifty with a six off Corbin Bosch – a wristy flick over mid-wicket that had Aiden Markram (SA captain) shaking his head like he’d just seen a plot twist in a bad soap opera.
Funny moment alert: When Rohit got out, Kohli was on 72 off 61. He didn’t charge the crease yelling; he just smirked at the umpire, as if to say, “Thanks for the warm-up, now watch this.” Social media exploded: “Rohit out? No problem, Kohli’s got the cheat codes activated.”
In those middle overs, Kohli toyed with the attack. Against Ottneil Baartman, he stepped out in the 10th over and lofted a length ball over long-off for six – pure timing, no swing, just “get out of my zone” vibes. By 20 overs, he’d hit three sixes, and South Africa’s fielders were patrolling the boundary like lost puppies.
Kohli’s Powerplay Magic
Mandatory Powerplay (0.1-10 overs): India scored 80 runs, with Kohli contributing 43* off 30-ish balls by then. Talk about setting the tone!
The Ruturaj & Washington Shuffle: Kohli Anchors, Then Accelerates
Post-Rohit, Ruturaj Gaikwad joined for a breezy 8 off 14, caught by Dewald Brevis off Baartman at 183-3 (26.3 overs). Then Washington Sundar, the all-rounder experiment, scratched around for 13 off 19 (one six, but mostly dots) before holing out to Bosch off Baartman at 200-4 (30.3 overs).
Through it all, Kohli was the rock. His partnerships? A 22-run cameo with Rohit post-Jaiswal, then 17 with Gaikwad, and a crucial 76 off 74 with Sundar. But the real fun started when KL Rahul (stand-in captain) strolled in at 200-4.
Rahul, ever the cool cat, played the perfect foil. While Kohli was smashing Prenelan Subrayen’s off-spin into the stands (three sixes in one over – flighted, looped, gone!), Rahul defended like it was a Test match. Their 76-run stand for the 5th wicket? Gold. Kohli reached his hundred off 92 balls – his 52nd ODI ton, eclipsing Sachin Tendulkar’s 5 centuries against South Africa (Kohli now has 6 in 30 innings vs Proteas). Average against SA in ODIs? Nearly 70. Insane.
Hilarious bit: During a drinks break, Kohli was seen chatting with Rahul. Lip-readers on Twitter claimed it was, “Bhai, tu defend kar, main six maarunga.” (Bro, you defend, I’ll hit sixes.) Rahul nodded, and sure enough, next over: Kohli six, Rahul dot. Teamwork makes the dream work – or in this case, the six work.
The Grand Finale: 135* and a Standing Ovation
At 276-4 after 42 overs, Kohli was on 134* (116 balls then). Enter Ravindra Jadeja for a quick 1 off 1. But the drama peaked in the 42.5 over: Nandre Burger, steaming in, bowled a yorker that Kohli edged to Ryan Rickelton. Out for 135 off 120. The stadium? On its feet. A guard of honor from teammates, hugs from Rahul, and Kohli walking off waving – vintage King.
India ended at 278-5 in 43 overs (RR 6.47). Extras: 20 (13 wides – SA bowlers were rattled). Fall of wickets: Classic Kohli innings – steady build, explosive middle, just enough to set a mountain.
Post-dismissal memes flooded X: “Kohli out at 135? Burger must’ve added secret sauce to that yorker.” Another: “South Africa bowled first to restrict India. Kohli: Hold my century.”
“Kohli doesn’t play ODIs; he conquers them. 135 in Ranchi – that’s not batting, that’s poetry with a cricket bat.” – Random Twitter fan, summing it up perfectly.
Why This Innings Matters: Stats, Records, and the Bigger Picture
Let’s geek out on numbers because Kohli’s knock wasn’t just eye-candy; it was record-breaking. This 135 is his highest in 2025 ODIs so far (beating his 100 vs Pakistan in Champions Trophy). Career ODI highest? Still that iconic 183 vs Pakistan in 2012 Asia Cup – a chase for the ages. But against South Africa? This ton takes him to 6 centuries, most by any batter vs Proteas.
Career ODI stats (as of Nov 2025): 14,255+ runs in 305 matches, average 58, 52 centuries (world record), 74 fifties. Sixes? 152 in ODIs – not Rohit-level, but those 7 today pushed his 2025 tally to double digits. In Ranchi ODIs, he’s now the top scorer ever (384+ runs in 5 matches, average 192!).
2025 has been Kohli’s redemption arc. Post-Test retirement (after 30 Test tons), he focused on white-ball. Champions Trophy hero (century vs Pak, crossed 14,000 ODI runs – only 3rd ever after Sachin & Sangakkara). IPL 2025: 657 runs at 54.75 SR 146.5 for RCB. This Ranchi gem? Proof he’s peaking at 37.
- Fastest ODI Tons: His 100 off 52 vs Aus (2013) still fastest by Indian.
- Chase King: 28 of 52 tons in chases – today, he set one up.
- Vs SA: 1,500+ runs, avg ~70. Bowlers’ nightmare.
Broader impact? India eyes series win. SA, chasing 279, faces Kohli-lite attack: Jadeja’s spin, Arshdeep’s swing. But Kohli’s knock? It’s meme fuel, stat porn, and a reminder: Age is just a number when you’ve got that fire.
The Funny Side: Bowler Blues and Kohli’s Mind Games
South African bowlers’ faces were a comedy sketch. Marco Jansen (8-0-51-1): Looked like he’d bowled a marathon. Nandre Burger (9-0-48-2): Got Kohli, but after 135? Hero to zero. Ottneil Baartman (9-0-54-2): That stepped-out six? He practiced it in nightmares later.
Prenelan Subrayen (10-0-73-0): Economy 7.30 – higher than Delhi rents. His googly? Kohli read it like a grocery list and smoked it for six. Markram’s captaincy? Deep fields everywhere, like preparing for a meteor shower.
Kohli’s antics: The intense stare-downs, the helmet-throw celebrations, the non-striker run-outs threats (none today, but the vibe). One viral clip: Kohli adjusting his box mid-over, grinning at Burger like, “Your yorker? Cute.”
Legacy Building: Kohli in 2025 and Beyond
2025: Test retirement, CT win, IPL Orange Cap chase (finished 3rd). This innings? Adds to his 83 intl centuries (30 Test, 52 ODI, 1 T20I). He’s the chase master (avg 65.5 batting second), fitness icon, and now, Ranchi royalty.
What’s next? India needs this series win to build momentum. For Kohli? Another World Cup? Nah, he’s done that (2011 WC, 2013 CT, 2024 T20 WC, 2025 CT). But knocking off more records? You bet.
Final Verdict: A Knock for the Ages
Virat Kohli’s 135 in Ranchi wasn’t just runs; it was rebellion, joy, dominance. From tentative start to ovation finish, he owned the day. South Africa bowls second now, chasing shadows. India? Smiling, because when Kohli cooks, everyone eats.
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