Shikhar Dhawan became the first India batsman and ninth overall to score a hundred in their 100th ODI. The previous highest score for an India player in his 100th match was 97 by Sourav Ganguly, also against South Africa in the 1999 World Cup.
Dhawan's 109 was his third century against South Africa in 14 innings and his first in the country in six innings. The only places he is yet to score a hundred are Bangladesh and West Indies. He is also the first India opener in 17 years to hit a ton against South Africa in South Africa. Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar smashed one each in the same match in 2001. WV Raman rounds off the list.
Dhawan now has 4309 runs at average of 46.33 in 99 innings including 13 centuries. His tally is second only to Hashim Amla among all players in their first 100 ODIs. Virat Kohli had the previous highest aggregate among India players, with 4107 runs at 48.89 in 97 innings with 13 centuries. In terms of centuries in first 100 ODIs, only Amla (16) and David Warner (14) have scored more than Dhawan.
Since his return to ODIs in the Champions Trophy in June 2013, Dhawan has averaged over 45 in five of the six calendar years. He had excellent numbers after his 50th ODI - 2048 runs at 44.52 with six centuries - but has improved on them in the next set of 50. His strike-rate, which was in the mid 80s during 2014 and 2015, has soared above 100 in 2016 and 2017. Only Rohit Sharma has scored more runs than Dhawan among all ODI openers since June 2013.