Virat Kohli vs South Africa in Cricket World Cup

Team India will take on South Africa in Match No. 37 of the ICC Men's ODI Cricket World Cup 2023. The high-octane encounter will be played at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 5.

Undoubtedly, Virat Kohli will be one of the key players to watch out for in the tie. The modern-day legend has some exceptional numbers against the Proteas, especially in the ODI format.

Kohli has scored over 1,400 runs at an immaculate average of 61.00 against South Africa in 50-over cricket. However, his record against them at the ODI World Cups is a bit ordinary.

Virat Kohli record vs South Africa in ODI World Cup matches

Virat Kohli has featured in three different ODI World Cup matches against South Africa. The Delhi lad has managed to score just 65 runs at an average of 21.66 in those games.

Kohli played his maiden ODI World Cup game against the Proteas during the 2011 ODI World Cup in Nagpur. He batted at No. 7 in the game and got out for one run off three balls.

Kohli's best performance in an ODI World event against South Africa came in Match 13 of the 2015 ODI World Cup. Batting first, Kohli was involved in a crucial 127-run partnership with Shikhar Dhawan for the second wicket.

Kohli made 46 runs and missed out on a well-deserved fifty. Dhawan went on to make 137 runs as India won the encounter by 130 runs.

Kohli's third and last outing against the Proteas at a World Cup came in Southampton, when India beat South Africa by six wickets.

Chasing 228, Kohli could only add up 18 runs off 34 balls before getting caught behind off Andile Phehlukwayo.

Virat Kohli's ODI record vs South Africa

It would be fair to say that Virat Kohli has dominated against South Africa throughout his international career.

In ODIs, the 34-year-old has played across 28 innings against South Africa and has made a total of 1,403 runs at a superb average of 61.00. He has racked up as many as eight half-centuries and four brilliant centuries as well.

After failing to make a single ODI ton in his first 15 innings against South Africa, Kohli went on a spree and racked up 913 runs at an improbable average of 101.44 across his next 13 innings against the Proteas.

However, his best series against them came when India toured South Africa for a six-match ODI rubber in February 2018. Kohli was on another level altogether in that series, scoring runs for fun. He made 558 runs at an unheard average of 186.00 and a strike rate just below 100.

Kohli's 558 runs in that series are still the most a batter has scored in an ODI bilateral series (maximum 6 matches).

Virat Kohli's ODI record vs South Africa in India

As far as batting against South Africa in India is concerned, Virat Kohli has notched up 334 runs at an average of 41.75 across eight innings in those games. This also includes two half-centuries and a century.

His only century against South Africa at home came during a bilateral series in 2015 in Chennai. Kohli made a solid 138 off 140 balls in that game and helped India to win the game by 35 runs.

Interestingly, Kohli's last ODI against South Africa on home soil came way back in October 2015. The former Indian captain would be rearing to bring out his 'A' game against them in the ODI World Cup 2023 clash.