A rare sorrow! When was the last time India lost an ODI despite Virat Kohli scoring a century? | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: A century from Virat Kohli turning into a losing cause was one of the rarest spectacles in modern cricket. But Raipur witnessed that rarity on Wednesday as India suffered a four-wicket defeat against South Africa despite Kohli’s 93-ball 102 – his second consecutive hundred in the series. The defeat not only leveled the three-match ODI contest 1-1, it also revived an unwanted stat that had lain dormant for almost seven years.Go beyond borders with our YouTube channel. REGISTER NOW!The last time India lost an ODI despite a Kohli century was on March 8, 2019, at Ranchi, when India lost 32 runs against Australia despite hitting 123 off 95 balls. Indeed, before Raipur, India had not lost an ODI in 2,462 days during which their former captain had reached triple figures (11 tons). Kohli’s tons usually win matches, which makes this loss even more notable.
In total, Kohli now has nine ODI centuries in lost causes. Batting, India rode a 195-run stand between Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad, the latter scoring his maiden ODI hundred (105), to post a formidable 358/5. Kohli’s knock featured seven boundaries and two sixes, marking his 53rd ODI century and 84th international ton in total, and also made him the first batter to hit seven or more ODI centuries against four different teams (Sri Lanka, West Indies, Australia and now South Africa).
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What do you think contributed the most to India’s loss despite Kohli’s century?
Much like Australia’s chase of 359 in Mohali in 2019, South Africa matched the most successful chase against India. Aiden Markram’s 110 from 98 balls, supported by runs from Temba Bavuma, Matthew Breetzke and Dewald Brevis, allowed the visitors to seal the chase with four balls to spare. Corbin Bosch reached the victory limit to finish undefeated on the 29th.The defeat also marked the first time in eight years that India lost a match while defending a total despite a century from Kohli, the last instance being against New Zealand in 2017 at Wankhede.2025 was one of his most prolific years in recent times, scoring 586 runs in 12 innings with three centuries and three fifties, and climbing to fourth place in the ICC ODI rankings.
