Virat Kohli has enjoyed some of his finest white-ball moments against South Africa. Whether in ODIs or T20Is, the Indian superstar has consistently delivered high-impact knocks, match-winning centuries, and series-defining innings. His records against the Proteas highlight not only his class but also his ability to dominate one of the strongest bowling attacks in world cricket.
With India moving through the ODI and T20I contests in 2025, Kohli has already broken some major records against South Africa and is closing in on several more milestones in formats where he has built an extraordinary legacy.
This article covers everything: ODI stats, T20I stats, progressive performances, centuries, dismissals, averages, milestones, and upcoming records that Kohli can still achieve against South Africa.
Virat Kohli vs South Africa in ODI Records Overview
Virat Kohli has played some of his most memorable ODI innings against South Africa, including multiple centuries, match-winning knocks, and tournament-defining performances.
Kohli’s ODI Record vs South Africa (Overall)
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Innings Played | 30 |
| Runs Scored | 1639 runs |
| Average | 68.29 |
| Strike Rate | 87.46 |
| Centuries | 6 ODI centuries |
| Highest Score | 160 (Newlands, 2018)* |
| 50+ Scores | Multiple half-centuries |
Kohli’s average of almost 70 against South Africa is one of the best by an Indian batter vs any top nation.
Virat Kohli’s ODI Performance vs South Africa – Complete Timeline
Below is the full official timeline, starting from earliest to latest, updated with his Ranchi hundred in November 2025.
| Runs | Balls | SR | Ground | Date | How Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 46 | 67.39 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | 21 Feb 2010 | c Gibbs b Morkel |
| — | — | — | Captain Roop Singh Stadium | 24 Feb 2010 | — |
| 57 | 71 | 80.28 | Narendra Modi Stadium | 27 Feb 2010 | c Boucher b Steyn |
| 54 | 70 | 77.14 | Kingsmead | 12 Jan 2011 | c Smith b Steyn |
| 22 | 34 | 64.71 | Wanderers | 15 Jan 2011 | run out |
| 28 | 41 | 68.29 | Newlands | 18 Jan 2011 | c AB b Morkel |
| 87* | 92 | 94.57 | St George’s Park | 21 Jan 2011 | not out |
| 2 | 6 | 33.33 | SuperSport Park | 23 Jan 2011 | c AB b Morkel |
| 1 | 3 | 33.33 | Nagpur | 12 Mar 2011 | c & b Peterson |
| 31 | 41 | 75.61 | Sophia Gardens | 06 Jun 2013 | c Amla b Tsotsobe |
| 31 | 35 | 88.57 | Wanderers | 05 Dec 2013 | c Kallis b McLaren |
| 0 | 5 | 0.00 | Kingsmead | 08 Dec 2013 | c de Kock b Tsotsobe |
| — | — | — | SuperSport Park | 11 Dec 2013 | — |
| 46 | 60 | 76.67 | MCG | 22 Feb 2015 | c du Plessis b Tahir |
| 11 | 18 | 61.11 | Green Park | 11 Oct 2015 | c Morkel b Steyn |
| 12 | 18 | 66.67 | Holkar Stadium | 14 Oct 2015 | run out |
| 77 | 99 | 77.78 | Rajkot | 18 Oct 2015 | c Miller b Morkel |
| 138 | 140 | 98.57 | Chennai | 22 Oct 2015 | c de Kock b Rabada |
| 7 | 6 | 116.67 | Wankhede | 25 Oct 2015 | c de Kock b Rabada |
| 76* | 101 | 75.25 | The Oval | 11 Jun 2017 | not out |
| 112 | 119 | 94.12 | Kingsmead | 01 Feb 2018 | c Rabada b Phehlukwayo |
| 46* | 50 | 92.00 | SuperSport Park | 04 Feb 2018 | not out |
| 160* | 159 | 100.63 | Newlands | 07 Feb 2018 | not out |
| 75 | 83 | 90.36 | Wanderers | 10 Feb 2018 | c Miller b Morris |
| 36 | 54 | 66.67 | St George’s Park | 13 Feb 2018 | run out |
| 129* | 96 | 134.38 | Centurion | 16 Feb 2018 | not out |
| 18 | 34 | 52.94 | Rose Bowl | 05 Jun 2019 | c de Kock b Phehlukwayo |
| 51 | 63 | 80.95 | Boland Park | 19 Jan 2022 | c Bavuma b Shamsi |
| 0 | 5 | 0.00 | Boland Park | 21 Jan 2022 | c Bavuma b Maharaj |
| 65 | 84 | 77.38 | Newlands | 23 Jan 2022 | c Bavuma b Maharaj |
| 101* | 121 | 83.47 | Eden Gardens | 05 Nov 2023 | not out |
| 135 | 120 | 112.50 | JSCA International Stadium Complex | 30 Nov 2025 | c Rickelton b Nandre Burger |
Milestones Kohli Has Broken & Upcoming Targets vs South Africa (ODI)
Kohli’s latest hundred at Ranchi has already pushed him past some historic names, while a few big landmarks are still within reach.
1. Now 2nd Highest ODI Run-Scorer vs South Africa
- With 1639 ODI runs, Kohli has gone past Jacques Kallis (1535).
- He now sits at No. 2, behind Sachin Tendulkar (2001 runs) vs South Africa.
2. Most ODI Centuries vs South Africa (Record Achieved)
Before the 2025 series, Kohli was tied with:
- Sachin Tendulkar – 5
- David Warner – 5
His 135 at Ranchi is his 6th ODI hundred vs South Africa, making him the undisputed No. 1 for most ODI centuries against the Proteas.
3. Most Hundreds in a Single Format (All-Time Record)
- Kohli came into the series with 51 ODI centuries.
- His Ranchi ton has taken him to 52 ODI hundreds, making him the first-ever player to score 52 centuries in a single international format, going past Sachin Tendulkar’s 51 Test tons.
4. Marching Towards 28,000 International Runs
After his 135 in Ranchi, Kohli is now roughly 202 runs away from the 28,000 international runs milestone, making it likely he will cross it soon if he maintains his form.
Virat Kohli’s ODI Performance vs South Africa – Progressive Timeline
| Match Detail | Score | Venue | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 off 46 | Jaipur (2010) | 67.39 | |
| 57 off 71 | Ahmedabad (2010) | 80.28 | |
| 87* off 92 | Port Elizabeth (2011) | 94.57 | |
| 46 off 60 | MCG (2015 WC) | 76.67 | |
| 77 off 99 | Rajkot (2015) | 77.78 | |
| 138 off 140 | Chennai (2015) | 98.57 | |
| 160* off 159 | Newlands (2018) | 100.63 | |
| 129* off 96 | Centurion (2018) | 134.38 | |
| 101* off 121 | Eden Gardens (2023 WC) | 83.47 | |
| 135 off 120 | Ranchi (2025) | 112.50 |
Kohli’s record includes:
- Multiple unbeaten knocks
- High strike rates in tough conditions
- Consistency across home and away matches
Why Kohli Dominates South Africa in ODIs
Excellent record against world-class pacers
He has scored big against:
- Dale Steyn
- Kagiso Rabada
- Morne Morkel
- Lungi Ngidi
Plays spin comfortably
South Africa’s spin attacks historically struggle vs right-handers with Kohli’s technique.
Master of run chases
Some of Kohli’s best ODI chases have come against SA in ICC tournaments.
Virat Kohli vs South Africa in T20Is – Full Record Overview
Although Kohli’s T20I battles vs SA are fewer, his performances are impactful and often match-winning.
Kohli’s T20I Record vs South Africa (Overall)
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Innings Played | 13 |
| Runs Scored | 394 runs |
| Average | 39.40 |
| Strike Rate | 133.11 |
| Highest Score | 72 (2014 & 2019)* |
| Not-Outs | Multiple key innings |
Virat Kohli T20I vs South Africa – Performance Timeline
| Runs | Balls | SR | Venue | Date | How Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 19 | 147.37 | Moses Mabhida Stadium | 09 Jan 2011 | b Botha |
| — | — | — | Wanderers | 30 Mar 2012 | — |
| 2 | 6 | 33.33 | Premadasa Stadium | 02 Oct 2012 | c AB b Kallis |
| 72* | 44 | 163.64 | Dhaka | 04 Apr 2014 | not out |
| 43 | 27 | 159.26 | Dharamsala | 02 Oct 2015 | c Duminy b Abbott |
| 1 | 1 | 100.00 | Barabati Stadium | 05 Oct 2015 | run out |
| 26 | 20 | 130.00 | Wanderers | 18 Feb 2018 | lbw Shamsi |
| 1 | 5 | 20.00 | SuperSport Park | 21 Feb 2018 | c Klaasen b Dala |
| 72* | 52 | 138.46 | Mohali | 18 Sep 2019 | not out |
| 9 | 15 | 60.00 | Bengaluru | 22 Sep 2019 | c Phehlukwayo b Rabada |
| 3 | 9 | 33.33 | Greenfield Stadium | 28 Sep 2022 | c de Kock b Nortje |
| 49* | 28 | 175.00 | Guwahati | 02 Oct 2022 | not out |
| 12 | 11 | 109.09 | Perth Stadium | 30 Oct 2022 | c Rabada b Ngidi |
| 76 | 59 | 128.81 | Barbados | 29 Jun 2024 | c Rabada b Jansen |
Top Kohli T20I Innings vs South Africa
| Score | Venue | Year | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 off 44* | Dhaka (2014 World T20) | 163.64 SR | Match-winning |
| 43 off 27 | Dharamsala (2015) | 159.26 SR | Powerplay acceleration |
| 72 off 52* | Mohali (2019) | 138.46 SR | Classic chase |
| 76 off 59 | Barbados (2024) | 128.81 SR | World Cup knock |
Kohli’s T20I numbers show:
- Strong finishing ability
- Excellent strike rotation
- Reliable against pace-dominated attacks
Combined ODI + T20I Stats vs South Africa
| Format | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 30 | 1639 | 68.29 | 87.46 | 6 | Several |
| T20I | 13 | 394 | 39.40 | 133.11 | 0 | Multiple |
| TOTAL | 43 | 2033 runs | — | — | 6 | — |
Upcoming India vs South Africa Matches – ODI & T20I Series 2025 Schedule
Team India and South Africa will continue their all-format battle through November–December 2025. After the two-Test series and the first ODI in Ranchi, the focus now shifts to the remaining two ODIs and the five T20Is, played across major Indian venues.
Below is the updated ODI match schedule:
India vs South Africa 2025: ODI Series Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 30, 2025 | 1st ODI – India won by 17 runs | JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi | 1:30 PM |
| Dec 3, 2025 | 2nd ODI | Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur | 1:30 PM |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 3rd ODI | ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam | 1:30 PM |
What to Expect from Kohli vs South Africa in 2025
Based on current form and the remaining ODIs/T20Is:
- Kohli is well-placed to keep extending his run tally and average vs South Africa.
- He can further strengthen his lead for most ODI centuries vs SA.
- He is closing in on 28,000 international runs, needing just over 200 more.
- More fifty-plus scores could push his combined ODI + T20I numbers vs SA into an even more historic bracket.
The 2025 series could go down as one of Kohli’s most historic phases against South Africa, both in terms of records and impact.
