Virat Kohli on Wednesday achieved a massive feat
during the first ODI of the three-match series against South Africa in Paarl. Kohli scored 51 off 63 balls and went past Sachin Tendulkar, MS
Dhoni, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly as India’s highest run-scorer in ODIs
away from home.

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Kohli, who is playing his first ODI only as a batter
in five years after being removed as an ODI skipper in November, broke
Tendulkar’s record for most runs in ODIs away from home in the first match
against South Africa while chasing 297 runs target.

Tendulkar had scored 5,065 runs in overseas conditions and Kohli,
surpassing the India great, is placed third in the all-time list in 50-overs
cricket. While Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara (5,518) is occupying the numero uno position,
Kohli, with 5068 runs, stands a chance to surpass Ricky Ponting (5,090) to go
second in the ongoing series.

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Last week, after T20I and ODI captaincy, Kohli
resigned as India’s Test captain. His announcement came after India lost a
three-match Test series against South Africa 2-1.

Earlier in the first ODI, South Africa put 296 for 4 on
the board with captain Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen scoring 110 and
129 not out. The hosts had won the toss and opted to bat in Paarl and lost four
quick wickets, but Bavuma and van der Dussen’s 204 runs fifth-wicket
partnership helped South Africa post a daunting target for India. Jasprit
Bumrah took two wickets for 48 runs in 10 overs.

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The first ODI also saw Venkatesh Iyer making his ODI
debut while senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also made a return to the
team after over four years.

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Ashwin gave 53 runs in his 10 overs. On the other hand, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal did not get any success. They gave 72, 64 and 53 runs, respectively.