Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad produced batting masterclasses in the second ODI against South Africa at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium.
Kohli struck his 53rd ODI hundred and 84th international century, while Gaikwad celebrated his maiden ODI ton, anchoring India’s innings with elegance and authority.
Kohli, in sublime touch, scored his second consecutive century of the series, reaching the milestone in just 90 deliveries. His fluent strokeplay continued from where he left off in Ranchi, where he had scored a match-winning 135.
At the other end, Gaikwad seized a rare opportunity in the ODI side, stepping up in the absence of injured captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer. The Chennai Super Kings skipper reached his fifty off 52 balls before accelerating to his hundred in only 77 deliveries. He punished South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj, taking 16 runs in a single over, and never looked back as he found boundaries at will.
Together, Kohli and Gaikwad stitched a 195-run partnership, showcasing class and composure. Kohli’s consistency reaffirmed his stature as one of the greatest ODI batters, while Gaikwad’s innings highlighted his silky timing and ability to dominate in white-ball cricket.
