Kohli and Pathan turned out to be the star for India in the batting department in the five-match ODI series against South Africa which they lost 2-3.
After losing the closely-fought ODI series 2-3 to South Africa, Indian captain MS Dhoni said it was a "disappointing" performance by the batsmen.
Yusuf Pathan hit a 68-ball century but Morne Morkel took four wickets as South Africa won the ODI series 3-2 by beating India by 33 runs by the D/L method in the fifth ODI at Centurion.
With the series tantalizingly poised at 2-2, India will have to quickly regroup and sort out their batting woes as they go into the fifth and final one-dayer on Sunday against the Proteas, hoping to register their first-ever series triumph on SA Soil.
Virat Kohli struck a sparkling 87 not out and had a hand in three dismissals but couldn't stop South Africa from winning the fourth one-day international against India at St George's Park on Friday.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss and chose to bat against India in the fourth one-dayer at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
Under MS Dhoni and Gary Kirsten, the Indian cricket team has achieved many firsts, in all forms of the game. It is now on the cusp of another - first-ever ODI series win in South Africa.
Having gained a 2-1 lead after registering back-to-back victories in the last two games against the Proteas, India go into the fourth one-dayer on Friday seeking to clinch their first-ever ODI series triumph on South African soil.
Graeme Smith on Tuesday said that Yusuf Pathan's breezy innings ruined the day for his side in the third cricket one-dayer against India.
A burst of powerful hitting by Yusuf Pathan spurred India to a thrilling two-wicket win in the third ODI against SA at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday.