Kohli's 35th ODI ton helps India wallop South Africa 5-1
Shardul Thakur dominated with the ball, Virat Kohli with the bat and India cruised to an eight-wicket win in Centurion, taking the six-match series 5-1
Shardul Thakur dominated with the ball, Virat Kohli with the bat and India cruised to an eight-wicket win in Centurion, taking the six-match series 5-1
Commentator: Deivarayan Muthu
8pm The victorious India team poses with the series trophy. Nikhil Kalro's report will tell you the full story of the day. This is Deivarayan Muthu and Alagappan Muthu signing off.
A reminder that viewers in the Indian subcontinent can catch all the highlights of this match here.
7.35pm Virat Kohli who has moved past AB de Villiers shakes hands with his good mate. He bossed the chase with his 35th ODI hundred and fourth of the tour. This win, however, was set up the bowlers. Thakur, playing his first game of the series, bagged four wickets and exposed South Africa's fragile middle order. The wristspinners - Kuldeep and Chahal - managed just three wickets between them but there would be no way back for South Africa. This despite Zondo's maiden international fifty on a slower-than-usual Centurion pitch. The margin of series defeat has thrown up questions about South Africa's depth. Can Markram hold his place when the big guns are back? Are Duminy and Miller still good enough? How does this shake up their 2019 World Cup plans?
WATCH - The Kohli straight drive to seal the series (Available in the Indian subcontinent).
Markram: It was quite a tough series. It's something we have to look back at it with a lot of thought and try to figure out why we weren't as good as we could be. They cashed in and that's where we lacked. It's how we grow and learn. We will try to take some positives. It's a nice break away from the format. It's not a bad thing for us.
Kohli, Man of the match and Man of the Series: It was a day where I felt really good. Last game, I was not in the right kind of mindset. This is a beautiful place to bat under lights. That's the idea behind bowling first. I like setting up for the short ball. It was a blessing in disguise, and they kept bowling short. I think the pitch got better to bat on under lights. It has been a rollercoaster till now. People who are close to me deserve a lot of credit. My wife has kept me going throughout the tour. I am grateful for that. Obviously, you want to lead from the front, and that's a wonderful feeling. I have got eight or nine years left in my career and I want to make the most of every day. It's a blessing that I am healthy and getting to captain my country. They have shown great character - especially the two young spinners. Shikhar at the top, Rohit. The way the series went augurs well for us. We're looking forward to the T20s. The tour is not over yet. As a team, we felt we did not play with the right frame of mind in the first two Tests. Come Johannesburg, we made up our mind that we will not take a backward step. After losing the Test series, I was talking to you. I am here taking to you after winning the ODI series.
Sundar S: "I think Markram will hang on to his place when Faf gets back. But it is Duminy and Miller who need to be dropped. Duminy for sure. I believe his SA time is up."
Taking nothing away from the young captain, Graeme Smith said South Africa could have looked at JP Duminy, Hashim Amla or AB de Villiers to stand in as captain for the ODIs
South Africa's young captain says he is richer for the experience gained in this series, and thinks the lopsided result will spur his team on and make future victories that much sweeter
Earlier in the one-day series, the India captain batted according to the match situation, did just what his team needed. Now, with the result of the game holding little value, he had the licence to let himself go, and boy did he put on a show
Before the ODI series began, Aiden Markram wasn't even sure of a place in the side, but in the span of five matches, he has gone from being touted a future captain to now battling for a permanent spot after SA return to full strength
The game will be a chance to rest players like Jasprit Bumrah and Kagiso Rabada although South Africa should be more desperate for a face-saving win than India's quest for 5-1