Visakhapatnam: South Africa’s star wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock delivered a sensational performance in the third ODI against India, smashing his 23rd ODI century and rewriting several major cricket records. Playing at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, the left-hander not only revived his form after two low scores but also equaled and surpassed milestones held by some of the biggest names in world cricket.

The South Africa–India rivalry has often showcased de Kock at his best, and this match was no different. After two quiet outings in the current series, the Proteas opener bounced back with an authoritative century, reaffirming his dominance against India in white-ball cricket. His fluent stroke play and sharp timing kept the Indian bowlers under pressure from the moment he settled at the crease.

With this knock, de Kock scored his seventh ODI century against India, making him joint-highest in the list of batters with most ODI tons against the Men in Blue. He now shares the record with former Sri Lankan great Sanath Jayasuriya. In the process, he overtook Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, and AB de Villiers, all of whom had six ODI centuries each against India.

De Kock’s Visakhapatnam hundred also helped him reach a major global milestone. His 23rd ODI ton places him joint-first with Kumar Sangakkara for the most ODI centuries scored by a designated wicketkeeper. This is a significant achievement considering that de Kock continues to keep wickets full-time while consistently producing match-winning knocks at the top of the order.

The South African opener’s mastery on Indian pitches is undeniable. With seven centuries in India, de Kock has joined an exclusive list of players who have scored seven or more ODI centuries in a single foreign country.
This elite group includes:

• Sachin Tendulkar – 7 tons in UAE




• Saeed Anwar – 7 tons in UAE




• AB de Villiers – 7 tons in India




• Rohit Sharma – 7 tons in England

De Kock now stands proudly among these legends, underlining his consistency and dominance away from home.

From his debut series—where he stunned India with three consecutive centuries—to his latest masterpiece in Visakhapatnam, de Kock continues to be one of India’s biggest challenges in ODI cricket. His ability to handle pressure, rotate strike, and consistently find boundaries makes him one of the finest limited-overs batters in modern cricket.

This latest century was not just another statistical milestone; it was a strong reminder of his stature as a match-winner. For South Africa, it came at a crucial moment, giving their innings stability and setting a strong platform. For India, it served as yet another warning: whenever de Kock is at the crease, records are in danger, and the match can slip away quickly.

As the series moves ahead, the spotlight will firmly remain on Quinton de Kock—the man who keeps rewriting history every time he takes guard against India.