IND vs South Africa, 2018: 5 Milestones waiting for the Indian team as we head into the fifth ODI

We head to the beautiful Port Elizabeth for the fifth ODI in the 6-match ODI series between India and South Africa with the visitors leading the series 3-1. St George's Park in Port Elizabeth hasn't been a good hunting ground for the Indian team as the Men in Blue have lost all of their ODI matches in Port Elizabeth including a humiliating defeat against Kenya as well.

However, the men in blue would be hoping to end their jinx at the St. George's Park and wrap up the series before the final match of the series. As we head into the fifth ODI of the series, let us have a look at five milestones that the Indian team will look forward to amidst the fifth ODI.

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#5 India look to seal the No.1 spot

India cruising to No.1 spot

After having played a fantastic brand of cricket in the ODI series, India are win away from cementing their place as the numer 1 side in ODIs. With a win in the fifth ODI, the Indian team will rema on top of the rankings irrespective of the result of the sixth ODI.

Interestingly, it will be the only second time in the history of ICC Team Rankings that India will be at the top of the table in ODIs and Tests simultaneously. The last time when India was on top of the table in bothb ODIs and Tests simultaneously was back in September 2017 against Australia.

#4 Virat Kohli on the brink of yet another milestone

Virat Kohli: The run machine

The one thing that Virat Kohli will never stop doing is setting milestones. The Indian skipper has been on a record-breaking spree ever since the start of the tour. With no doubt, Kohli is the highest run-scorer in the series so far. But there is another unique milestone for the Indian captain to look forward to in the fifth ODI.

The Indian skipper, who has played 24 matches against Proteas, is slowly catching up with five others on the list of top run-getters against South Africa in ODIs. Six more runs in Port Elizabeth will get him past Mohammad Azharuddin's aggregate 1109 against the Proteas. Currently, Sachin Tendulkar(2001 runs) currently leads the chart against South Africa with Sourav, Dravid, Azharuddin, and Kohli completing the top 5.

#3 Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav: Two horses in the race

The spin-twins

The spin-twins of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have been the trump cards for the Indian team in the series so far. The duo have provided the much-needed diversity in the Indian team's bowling department.

Having taken 12 wickets each, Chahal and Yadav are the joint highest wicket-takers in the series so far. In the 25-year history of cricket between India and South Africa, Lonwabo Tsotsobe has been the highest wicket-taker in a bilateral ODI series between India and South Africa. Thus, the spin duo can go past Tsotsobe's 13 wickets to become the top wicket-takers of the series and also become the highest wicket-takers in any of the bilateral ODI series between India and South Africa.

#2 MS Dhoni approaching 10000 Runs in ODI cricket

MS Dhoni looking to be a part of an elite list of Indian Cricketers

The aura Mahendra Singh Dhoni has is next to unmatchable. Now a strong pillar in the middle-order, it is great to see the former skipper taking up the responsibility of building up the innings as well as finishing it. The wicketkeeper-batsman has been quietly doing his business and at the same time etching his name in the record books.

And now he is in line to become only the fourth Indian batsman and 12th overall to enter the 10000 runs club. The charismatic Indian wicket-keeper is just 46 runs away from from the landmark figure. MS will also be the first batsman in the history of ODI cricket to score 10,000 ODI runs at an average in excess of 50.

#1 Virat Kohli scaling new heights as a Captain

Virat Kohli has not lost any bilateral ODI series as captain.

Virat Kohli has been the pearl of the oyster for the Indian Cricket Team. Ever since taking over captaincy from MS Dhoni, Kohli has scaled new heights as an Indian captain as tet another milestone awaits the captain as India meet South Africa in the fifth ODI.

With a win in the fifth ODI of the series, Kohli will become the first Indian captain to win a bilateral ODI series in South Africa. Thus, India is just a win away to claim the historic ODI series win and beat South Africa in South Africa for the first time. Also, this will be seventh-straight bilateral ODI series win for Virat Kohli.