Virat Kohli's consecutive ODI centuries against South Africa sparked a ticket rush at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy

ACA-VDCA Stadium in Vizag, with fans eager for another masterclass.

Virat Kohli’s back-to-back centuries in the ongoing ODI series against South Africa have got the entire country back on

its feet. The Indian maestro is being described as the sole reason for selling out Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA

Stadium in Vizag entirely, despite an initially lukewarm response.

According to Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) officials, ticket sales didn’t see a good response when the first phase

was opened to the public digitally on November 28 for the match scheduled for Saturday, December 6. The state

association was also considering opening offline sales of tickets from counters outside the stadium to push demand, but

then Kohli’s century in the first ODI in Ranchi on November 30 turned things around.

“The first phase of tickets went on sale on November 28. The response wasn’t good," Y. Venkatesh from the ACA’s Media

and Operations team told The Indian Express. “But after Kohli’s hundred at Ranchi, the second and third phases vanished

in minutes. Nothing was left unsold."

Kohli is batting like he could find another peak in his favorite format after relinquishing both Tests and T20Is over

the past couple of years. His 135 in Ranchi was extraordinary, for many expected him to look rusty because of the lack

of regular match practice — the former captain got over a wobbly start quickly to put up a rollicking innings with as

many as 11 boundaries and seven sixes.

His 102 off 93 in Raipur came at a similar strike rate with near-identical control over the tempo of the innings.

Can Virat Kohli score a 3rd consecutive ton?

It’s hard to put it past the best men’s ODI batter in the world. Kohli is one of 12 players in the world to have scored

three or more consecutive tons in the format — he did it against West Indies in 2018. That year, he also scored three

centuries in six ODIs against South Africa.

Moreover, he seems to love the conditions in Vizag. In seven matches here, he has scored 587 runs at a stellar average

of 97.83 with three centuries and two fifties.