Top 5 ODI batting performances by Indians against the Proteas in South Africa

#3 WV Raman (114) - Centurion, December 1992

WV Raman scored the first hundred in ODI cricket by an Indian in South Africa. Pic: Getty Images

Former India opener WV Raman scored a memorable 114 off 148 balls as India chased down 215 against South Africa in the 3rd ODI of the seven-match series at Centurion back in December 1992. This was the first hundred in ODI cricket by an Indian in South Africa. Raman hit only six fours and one six in his innings but ensured India ended up on the winning side.

The left-hander featured in an opening stand of 56 with Ajay Jadeja (20) to get India’s chase off to a solid start. Raman and Sachin Tendulkar (22) then featured in a crucial 45-run stand for the fourth wicket after India lost Pravin Amre and Mohammad Azharuddin. Raman was eventually dismissed by Allan Donald in the 47th over. However, Ravi Shastri’s unbeaten 16-ball 27 took India over the line.

Earlier, India restricted South Africa to 214 for 5 after winning the toss and bowling first. Despite opener Andrew Hudson’s 87, the hosts never got going. There were two run-outs in South Africa's innings, while Anil Kumble restricted the batting side with figures of 2 for 29.

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#2 Yusuf Pathan (105) - Centurion, January 2011

Former India all-rounder Yusuf Pathan. Pic: Getty Images

It rarely happens that a team ends up on the losing side after one of its batters smashes a 100 in 68 balls. But this is exactly what transpired in the 5th ODI of the five-match series against South Africa in January 2011. Yusuf Pathan clobbered a sensational 105 in only 70 balls, but India still ended up losing the contest by 33 runs (D/L) method.

Set a target of 268 in 46 overs, India collapsed to 119 for 8. The result seemed a mere formality. However, Yusuf smacked eight fours and as many sixes in a sensational innings to give South Africa a real scare. He was on 26 off 30 at the end of the 23rd over, after which he went berserk.

The dangerous batter clubbed Morne Morkel for a six and two fours in the 29th over. A few overs later, he picked consecutive sixes against off-spinner Johan Botha. India took the batting powerplay in the 35th over, which saw Pathan whack Lonwabo Tsotsobe for two sixes and as many fours. The second maximum, which was pulled high over the ropes, brought up Yusuf’s sensational ton.

The 21-run over brought the equation down to 50 off 68 balls. However, Morkel ended all hopes of an Indian miracle as he had Yusuf caught. The big hitter attempted another aggressive stroke but ran out of luck as the ball went straight up in the air. India were all-out for 234 in 40.2 overs. Batting first, South Africa made 250 for 9, built around Hashim Amla’s unbeaten 116 off 132 balls.

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#1 Virat Kohli (160*) - Cape Town, February 2018

Virat Kohli batting during the 2017-18 series in South Africa. Pic: Getty Images

Kohli slammed a superb 160* off 159 balls in the 3rd ODI of the six-match series against South Africa in Cape Town in February 2018. The Proteas sent India into bat and Kohli led from the front as the visitors posted 303 for 6 on the board. The right-hander smacked 12 fours and two sixes during his attacking knock.

India lost Rohit Sharma for a duck in the first over, after which Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan (76) featured in a second-wicket stand of 140. The Indian skipper began sedately, reaching his fifty off 64 balls. He continued to rotate the strike and brought up his 34th century off 119 deliveries at the start of the 40th over.

Kohli smashed his two sixes in the last two overs of the innings. The first one off Chris Morris was whipped to wide long-on and the second came off Kagiso Rabada, whacked over midwicket. Kohli ended his innings by whipping Rabada past mid-off for four.

Chasing 304, the Proteas folded for 179 in 40 overs as Indian spinners Chahal and Kuldeep claimed four wickets each.