India end 25-year drought, Virat Kohli's side clinches first-ever series in South Africa -- See pics

India beat SA by 73 runs in 5th ODI - See pics

Port Elizabeth, Feb 14: Team India created history by winning its first ever series across formats on the South African soil as they registered a convincing 73-run win over South Africa in the fifth ODI thereby taking an unassailable 4-1 lead in the six-match ODI series.

Match Scorecard; Series Schedule

No Indian men's side since its first tour in South Africa back in 1992, has ever won a series across any format but this side led-by their inspirational skipper Virat Kohli proved why they are the best in the business.

They did win a one-off T20 match in 2006 -- their first ever shortest format but it was a single match event.

The team under Kohli achieved which neither of Mohammed Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid or Mahendra Singh Dhoni could ever accomplish -- win a full-fledged series in the Rainbow Nation.

Rohit Sharma came good when it ultimately mattered as he scored 115 in India's tricky total of 274 for 7 on a sluggish St George's Park wicket.

South Africa did put up a fight before wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav (4/57 in 10 overs) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2/43 in 9.2 overs) once again wreaked havoc after a rare off-day in the previous game.

The spinners polished off the lower-order in a jiffy as the home team were shot out for 201 in 42.2 overs One can't ignore Hardik Pandya's contribution as his all-round skill sets came into good effect getting 2 for 30 with seamers and then a run-out with a direct throw off in-form Hashim Amla (71), which decisively swung the match in India's favour.

A win in the fifth ODI also ensures India will leapfrog the Proteas and go top of the one-day rankings in ICC table. They will now look to finish with a flourish in the series finale in Centurion on Friday.

Here are the images from India's historic win:

Rohit Sharma finally shines with bat

After a series of low scores, Rohit Sharma came good when it ultimately mattered as he scored 115.

Despite Rohit's 115 off 126 balls and first on South African soil, India failed to consolidate during the final 10 overs as they scored only 55 runs after being comfortably placed at 219 for 4.

The vice-captain, after four consecutive low scores, went on to slam his 17th ODI ton and 15th as an opener. He is now third behind Sachin Tendulkar (45 out of 49) and Sourav Ganguly (19 out of 22) with a number of centuries as an opener.

Rohit-Kohli run out saga continues

A bit of mix-up in the middle between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli cost the latter his wicket. The duo had put up a partnership of 107 runs for the second wicket before a misunderstanding between the two resulted in Kohli getting dismissed run out for 36.

Rohit, later, was involved in another run out when a mix-up with Rahane cost the latter his wicket.

The Mumbaikar suffered a lot of criticism on social media as well for getting two of his partners run out.

Kohli's unlucky dismissal

Virat Kohli missed out on another big knock after he was run out for 36. The skipper was looking in good touch. He also completed 400 runs in this series to become second captain to do so. He became second India after Rohit Sharma to score 400+ runs in an ODI series. Rohit has done it twice.

Dhoni gets dismissed for 13

Veteran batsman MS Dhoni came into the middle to bat at No. 6. The right-handed batsman, however, couldn't do much as he could only muster 13 runs off 17 balls before getting dismissed.

The veteran tried to take the game to the last over and exploit the bowler to score some runs in the final overs, but he was dismissed in the penultimate over after being caught by Aiden Markram.

Pandya shines with ball

One can't ignore Hardik Pandya's contribution as his all-round skill sets came into good effect getting 2 for 30 with seamers and then a run-out with a direct throw off in-form Hashim Amla (71), which decisively swung the match in India's favour.

Pandya got the wickets of JP Duminy and dangerous AB de Villiers.

Team India celebrate fall of a wicket

Team India celebrated the fall of Hashim Amla's wicket after the latter was run out by Hardik Pandya's direct hit.

Pandya had scored 71 before he was outrun by Pandya while he was stealing a single.

Chahal takes his revenge from Miller

Yuzvendra Chahal took his revenge from dangerous David Miller by getting him bowled. The spinner also gave him a good send off as he silenced the South African camp with yet another superb bowling effort and punctured their hopes of staying alive in the series.

Kuldeep shines again

The two wrist spinners once again proved to be a revelation as none save Amla could read them properly from their wrists.

Kuldeep looked lethal once again as he picked up 4 wickets in the game. He grabbed 3 wickets in one over and ensured India record another emphatic win over Proteas.

History is created

With the fall of Morne Morkel off Chahal in the 43rd over, India broke a 25-year-long jinx as they won their first-ever series win in South Africa.

The Indians lead the series 4-1 and a defeat even in the final, dead rubber, isn't going to change the fate of the series for the visitors. However, Team India would like to keep the winning momentum.