Best Pictures from India South Africa 4th ODI: Kohli show vs ABD show, Dhoni's smile of pure joy

Virat Kohli’s 23rd ODI century, combined with an outstanding bowling effort by the spinners, helped India equalise the 5-match ODI series 2-2 with a win over South Africa at Chennai on Thursday. The 5-match series has rightfully gone down to the wire, with the winner to be decided after the 5th ODI in Mumbai on Sunday.Chasing the target of 300 set by the hosts, AB De Villiers single-handedly brought the Proteas close to the total with a knock of 112 but in the end it was not enough as the visitors fell short by 35 runs. The best frames to have been captured in the course of the match.

#1 \'I got this one, mate!\' - Kohli consoles Rahane

India were in trouble early on in the must-win encounter, having lost their openers cheaply. Ajinkya Rahane (45) and Virat Kohli (138) steadied the ship, before Rahane fell to Dale Steyn.

Kohli is seen consoling Rahane after his dismissal, possibly assuring him that he had done a good job, and that Virat would take charge of proceedings from then on.

#2 Kohli goes on blitzkrieg

Virat Kohli has had a disappointing year, especially in ODIs. But it can be said after Thursday, the Kohli of old is back, and so is his penchant for scoring big runs. He hit five sixes in his innings.

#3 Kohli reaches his century

As Kohli reached his century, he launched into a celebration more often seen on football grounds than the cricket field. It started off with a flexing of the biceps.

#4 Kohli-Raina set up India for big total

Suresh Raina has been on the wrong end of things for the last few matches, but he hit back at critics with a gutsy 52-ball 53, matching Kohli’s aggression stroke for stroke.

#5 Heat and humidity cripples Kohli

It was a marathon innings which Kohli came up with today, and he was made to feel the physical rigours of the long innings as well. Towards the end of his innings, he was only dealing in singles. He also went out to a very tired-looking slash off Rabada’s bowling – an unfitting end to a majestic innings.

#6 ABD congratulates Kohli

The South African captain, AB de Villiers, is currently under pressure for his team’s slow over rate, but he made sure to take the time out to go up to Virat Kohli to congratulate him on his mammoth effort.

#7 Chennai crowd gives CSK players extra boost

The Chennai crowd gave a rousing ovation to MS Dhoni as he walked out. However, it was his CSK teammate Suresh Raina who must have got a lot of inspiration from playing in familiar territory, and came up with a special knock.

#8 Dhoni\'s smile of pure joy

The dangerous Faf du Plessis, another CSK player, was building a partnership with AB de Villiers, which threatened to take the game away from India. As Axar Patel got a faint edge off Du Plessis’ bat to travel to Dhoni, the keeper-captains face broke out in a wide heartfelt smile.

India were on track for victory, and to level the series 2-2.

#9 Faf protests umpire\'s decision

Faf du Plessis was not pleased with the umpire’s decision to give him out caught behind, and he made his displeasure clear – raising his hands in exasperation, even as Indian players milled around in celebration near him.

#10 Wickets fall all around, ABD stands still

Chasing the target of 300, the South African team collapsed under pressure. But one man stood like a rock in the middle, operating at a distinct level higher than all his teammates.

AB de Villiers scored a 107-ball 112, tackling a rank turner of a pitch, and had he been provided even a little bit of support from any of his partners, he would have taken his team to a very famous win.

#11 ABD\'s lone heroics go in vain

In the end, the target of 300 proved to be too much for the one-man army, but he did not leave without giving Indians a lot of trepidation that the game was slowly and inevitably slipping away from their grasp.

#12 Dhoni takes stump to gift Kohli

MS Dhoni thanks the last man, Kagiso Rabada, after the last ball. His customary act of taking a stump from the match had a twist on this instance. He gifted it to Kohli, who was too tired to come out to field in the 2^nd innings, but without whose 138 the victory would not have been possible.