Key takeaways from first ODI between South Africa and India

#1 Rahane stamping his authority

The No. 4 spot in the Indian ODI set-up has been a game of musical chairs with as many as seven players tried and tested over the past 12 months. India had their latest No. 4 in Ajinkya Rahane at Kingsmead, someone who played at the same position in the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

Rahane came in to bat after India had lost Shikhar Dhawan to a bizarre run out leaving the visitors precariously placed at 68/2. Rahane looked very comfortable from the outset as he complimented Kohli with exquisite cuts and drives and swift running between the wickets.

Their 189-run stand broke the record for India's third wicket partnership vs South Africa, the previous best being 158 between Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid at Belfast, 2007. Rahane made a brilliant 79, his 5th consecutive fifty in as many innings, a record emulated previously once by Sachin Tendulkar (1994) and twice by Virat Kohli (2013 & 2014) respectively.

It was also Rahane's fourth successive fifty at number four with his scores reading 87, 89, 50 and 79, three of which came more than three years ago. A string of such performances in the upcoming matches might just help India solve the number four conundrum once and for all.