Virat Kohli Does a Sachin Tendulkar With 23rd ODI Ton

Virat Kohli, undoubtedly India's most consistent and fiery batsman in the past couple of years, scored his 23rd century in the fourth ODI versus South Africa in Chennai on Thursday. His milestone came after 13 innings without a ODI century. (India vs South Africa Fourth ODI: Highlights)

The 27-year-old Delhi boy has gone from strength to strength in recent times and with the ton against South Africa, he has now scored a century against every Test-playing nation. He is the second Indian to do so after Sachin Tendulkar. This is also Kohli's first ODI ton against South Africa.

Kohli completed his century off 112 balls. He finally got out on 138 (140 balls, 6x4s, 5x6s) in the 49th over. Courtesy, the India Test captain's chanceless knock, India notched 299 for eight in 50 overs. The home team spinners then bowled brilliantly to restrict South Africa to 264 for nine in 50 overs. India are now level at 2-2 in the series.   (Scorecard)

Coming at No. 3, after opener Rohit Sharma's (21 off 19 balls) dismissal, Kohli first tried to stitch a partnership with Shikhar Dhawan (7 off 15 balls). But the latter was scratchy and got caught by Quinton de Kock off Kagiso Rabada.

In came Ajinkya Rahane, and Kohli started to bloom. The duo was inlvolved in a 104-run partnership in 18.2 overs. For a period of four overs, the two kept quite and kept the scoreboard ticking with ones and twos.

Kohli took the initiative in the 12th over by left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso as he hit him for a six. Then in the next over, Dale Steyn came under his fury.

The most interesting part of Kohli's innings was that he always looked sure about his shots. He played with a straight bat and hit the ball well. Kohli and Rahane, who were involved in a run out in the second ODI in Indore, co-ordianted well on Thursday.

When the boundaries did not come, the run-rate never fell below five as the running-between-the-wicket was perfect.

Kohli took a special liking for Imran Tahir as he played him with ease and hit him boundaries in the bowler's successive overs.

But after Rahane (45 off 53 balls) got out in the 27th over, Kohli entered a period of playing cautiously. He took quite some time to get past the 80s. However, he entered the 90s in style when he hit Tahir for a four.

The nervous nineties began precariously as he survived a run out in the same over off Tahir. But ultimately, Kohli reached his ton with a six off Phangiso.

Later in the innings he suffered cramps due to the hot and humid conditions and his running hampered. He mostly relied on boundaries to score. He was dismissed in the penultimate over of the Indian innings off Kagiso Rabada as the batsman edged a shortish ball and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock made no mistake to catch it.