Virat Kohli equals Sachin’s venue record in Raipur as ‘Thank You, Gambhir’ trends

Virat Kohli’s unbeaten century in Raipur added a major milestone to his ODI record, bringing him level with Sachin Tendulkar for the most ODI centuries scored at 34 different venues.

His 53rd ODI hundred — came in the second ODI against South Africa, where his 195-run partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad helped India post 358/5. Despite the total, South Africa chased down the target to level the series.

The Raipur century followed Kohli’s 135 in the opening ODI in Ranchi, giving him back-to-back hundreds in the series and taking his international tally to 84 centuries. The Ranchi performance also led to a rankings shift: Kohli rose to No. 4 in the ICC ODI batting rankings with 751 points, overtaking Shubman Gill, who missed the series due to injury. Rohit Sharma continues to lead the list, followed by Daryl Mitchell and Ibrahim Zadran.

She reposted an image of Kohli’s hundred-celebration from the match and added a red-heart emoji on her Instagram Story.

A post on X by Netflix India around the theme of Stranger Things for Virat Kohli. 

https://x.com/NetflixIndia/status/1996173243892552112?s=20

“Thank You, Gambhir” Becomes a Viral Theme

Kohli’s consecutive centuries triggered a strong social-media response, with many fans crediting head coach Gautam Gambhir for what they describe as a renewed sense of clarity and confidence in Kohli’s batting. The phrase “Thank you, Gambhir” trended widely across platforms as supporters linked the performances to India’s updated coaching environment.

“Dear Gambhir, thank you for bringing back that egoistic 2016-17 version of Virat Kohli,” one user wrote. Another said, “Gautam Gambhir messed with the wrong guys. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli seem more focused on the 2027 World Cup than any youngster. These two would be my first names on the team sheet.” 

Just look at Gautam Gambhir today the smile on his face after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s century says everything.

No one expected Gambhir to even give Gaikwad a single chance in this SA ODI series, but Gambhir always backs the players in whom he sees real potential. And today, that trust… pic.twitter.com/A9NBjk4clk

— GillTheWill (@GillTheWill77) December 3, 2025

https://x.com/Bahari_Bihari/status/1996173458024411331?s=20

A clip of Gambhir applauding Kohli from the dressing-room balcony during the Raipur innings gained significant traction online, with fans pointing to the moment as a positive sign of alignment between the senior batter and the new team management setup.

Looking Ahead

Kohli’s form in Ranchi and Raipur reinforces his position as a central figure in India’s ODI plans as the team prepares for its next competitive cycle. In addition, Kohli has reportedly made himself available for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, signalling his intention to remain engaged with domestic cricket even as his international schedule evolves. With BCCI making domestic cricket mandatory for contracted players unless they are injured or on national duty, Kohli’s presence in Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign is expected to draw significant crowds and add unprecedented visibility to the tournament.