On June 29, 2024, Indian cricket fans celebrated a historic T20 World Cup victory that lifted spirits across the nation. While the Men in Blue reveled in triumph, South Africa faced a bitter setback—a day that left an indelible mark on both cricketing communities. This in-depth analysis examines the detailed statistics between the India and South Africa teams across formats, highlighting team achievements, individual records, and recent developments in the rivalry.
The overall head-to-head record between India and South Africa reflects a fiercely competitive rivalry:
Format
Matches
India Won
South Africa Won
Draw/Tie
TEST
44
16
18
10
ODI
94
40
51
3
T20
31
18
12
1
Total
169
74
81
14
ICC Events Performance
In ICC tournaments, both teams have experienced moments of brilliance. However, recent events show India edging ahead on the big stage:
Event
Matches
India Won
South Africa Won
Draw/Tie
ODI WC
6
3
3
0
T20 WC
7
5
2
0
Total
14
8
5
0
Test Match Chronicles
Test cricket has always been the battleground for strategic battles and enduring legacies.
Test Team Performances
Highest Team Scores
Team
Score
Opposition
Ground
India
643/6d
vs South Africa
Kolkata
India
627
vs South Africa
Chennai
South Africa
620/4d
vs India
Centurion
India
601/5d
vs South Africa
Pune
South Africa
563
vs India
Bloemfontein
Lowest Team Scores
Team
Score
Opposition
Ground
South Africa
55
vs India
Cape Town
India
66
vs South Africa
Durban
India
76
vs South Africa
Ahmedabad
South Africa
79
vs India
Nagpur
South Africa
84
vs India
Johannesburg
Test Batting Records
Player
Innings
Runs
Highest Score
Sachin Tendulkar
45
1741
169
Jacques Kallis
31
1734
201*
Hashim Amla
37
1528
253*
Virat Kohli*
38
1408
254*
AB de Villiers
35
1334
217*
Test Highest Average
Player
Innings
Runs
Highest Average
Irfan Pathan
3
88
88.00
Jacques Kallis
31
1734
69.36
Zander de Bruyn
3
130
69.36
Neil McKenzie
8
423
60.42
Virat Kohli*
28
1408
54.15
Test Bowling Records
Player
Innings
Wickets
Best Figures
Anil Kumble
40
84
6/53
Dale Steyn
23
65
7/51
Jawagal Shrinath
25
64
6/21
Harbhajan Singh
19
60
7/87
Morne Morkel
31
58
5/20
Test Best Economy Rates
Player
Matches
Overs
Economy
Hansie Cronje
11
174.1
1.81
Brian McMillan
10
303.1
2.23
Shaun Pollock
12
451.4
2.24
Ravindra Jadeja*
9
352.3
2.27
Anil Kumble
21
1138.2
2.34
ODI Encounters
ODI contests between India and South Africa have been defined by pulsating run chases and thrilling finishes.
ODI Team Performances
Highest Team Scores
Team
Score
Opposition
Ground
South Africa
438/4
vs India
Mumbai
India
401/3
vs South Africa
Gwalior
South Africa
365/2
vs India
Ahmedabad
South Africa
358/4
vs India
Johannesburg
India
331/7
vs South Africa
Cardiff
Lowest Team Scores
Team
Score
Opposition
Ground
South Africa
83
vs India
Kolkata
India
91
vs South Africa
Durban
South Africa
99
vs India
Delhi
South Africa
116
vs India
Johannesburg
South Africa
117
vs India
Nairobi
ODI Batting Records
Player
Innings
Runs
Highest Score
Sachin Tendulkar
57
2001
200*
Jacques Kallis
29
1535
119*
Virat Kohli*
34
1504
160*
Gary Kirsten
26
1377
133*
AB de Villiers
32
1357
119
ODI Highest Average
Player
Innings
Runs
Highest Average
Shardul Thakur*
3
123
123.00
Sanju Samson*
5
238
119.00
Tony de Zorzi*
3
228
114.00
Ryan McLaren
3
89
89.00
Virat Kohli*
29
1504
65.39
ODI Bowling Records
Player
Innings
Wickets
Best Figures
Shaun Pollock
33
48
5/37
Allan Donald
26
46
5/29
Anil Kumble
39
46
4/25
Dale Steyn
18
34
5/50
Lance Klusener
20
31
5/42
ODI Best Economy Rates
Player
Matches
Overs
Economy
Anil Kumble
40
373.0
3.94
Shaun Pollock
33
290.3
4.04
Allan Donald
26
240.1
4.05
Makhaya Ntini
20
173.5
4.12
Hansie Cronje
34
179.0
4.36
T20 International Battles
The T20 format offers explosive cricket, with high strike rates and game-changing performances.
T20I Team Performances
Highest Team Scores
Team
Score
Opposition
Ground
India
283/1
vs South Africa
Johannesburg
India
237/3
vs South Africa
Guwahati
South Africa
227/3
vs India
Indore
South Africa
221/3
vs India
Guwahati
South Africa
219/4
vs India
Johannesburg
Lowest Team Scores
Team
Score
Opposition
Ground
South Africa
87
vs India
Rajkot
India
92
vs South Africa
Cuttack
South Africa
95
vs India
Johannesburg
South Africa
106/8
vs India
Tivendram
South Africa
116/9
vs India
Durban
T20I Batting Records
Player
Innings
Runs
Highest Score
David Miller*
22
524
106*
Rohit Sharma
17
429
106
Virat Kohli
13
394
76
Surya Kumar Yadav*
11
372
100
Quinton de Kock
10
351
79*
T20I Strike Rates
Player
Innings
Runs
Best Strike Rate
Washington Sundar*
1
4
400.00
Justin Ontong
1
22
314.28
Richard Levi
1
19
271.42
Raman Deep Singh*
1
15
250.00
Christiaan Jonker
1
49
204.16
T20I Bowling Records
Player
Innings
Wickets
Best Figures
Arshdeep Singh*
10
18
3/20
Keshav Maharaj*
15
15
2/23
Bhuvneshwar Kumar*
11
14
5/24
Varun Chakraborty*
4
12
5/17
Ravi Ashwin*
10
11
3/22
T20I Best Economy Rates
Player
Economy
Kagiso Rabada*
7.45
Hardik Pandya*
8.58
Axar Patel*
8.60
Keshav Maharaj*
8.64
(Min – 250 balls)
Individual Records Across Formats
Test Matches – Individual Bests
Highest Runs in an Innings (Test)
Player
Runs
Virendra Sehwag
319
Virat Kohli*
254*
Hashim Amla
253*
AB de Villiers
217*
Mayank Agarwal*
215
Highest Wickets in an Innings (Test)
Player
Wickets
Lance Klusener
8/64
Dale Steyn
7/51
Shardul Thakur*
7/61
Ravi Ashwin*
7/66
Allan Donald
7/84
ODIs – Individual Bests
Highest Runs in an Innings (ODI)
Player
Runs
Sachin Tendulkar
200*
Virat Kohli*
160*
Rohit Sharma*
150
Sourav Ganguly
141*
Virat Kohli*
138
Highest Wickets in an Innings (ODI)
Player
Wickets
Sunil Joshi
5/6
Yuzi Chahal*
5/22
Allan Donald
5/29
Hansie Cronje
5/32
Ravindra Jadeja*
5/33
T20s – Individual Bests
Highest Runs in an Innings (T20)
Player
Runs
Tilak Varma*
120*
Sanju Samson*
109*
Tilak Varma*
107*
Sanju Samson*
107
David Miller*
106*
Highest Wickets in an Innings (T20)
Player
Wickets
Kuldeep Yadav*
5/17
Varun Chakravarthy*
5/17
Bhuvneshwar Kumar*
5/24
RP Singh
4/13
Bhuvneshwar Kumar*
4/13
FAQs
Which cricket team is stronger—India or South Africa? Both teams are extremely competitive. In 165 international games, South Africa has won 80 while India has claimed 71 victories, showcasing the fine margins between these cricketing giants.
What is India’s winning percentage against South Africa in ODIs? According to Wikipedia, India holds a winning percentage of 42.55% against the Proteas in One Day Internationals.
Who is in the Indian T20 squad for the South Africa series 2024? The squad includes: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakraborty, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, and Yash Dayal.
Has South Africa won any ICC trophy? Yes, the Proteas clinched the Champions Trophy in 1999—their only ICC title to date.
How many times have South Africa beaten India in T20 internationals? South Africa has defeated India 11 times in the history of T20 matches.
Conclusion & Recent Developments
The India–South Africa rivalry is defined by a blend of artistry, fierce competitiveness, and unforgettable moments on the cricket field. From record-setting Test innings to pulsating ODI chases and electrifying T20 battles, the statistics paint a vivid picture of a rivalry that continues to evolve.
Recent series have seen India leverage its home advantage to build momentum, while South Africa is investing in young talent and innovative strategies to close the gap. With both sides consistently pushing the envelope, the future promises more high-stakes encounters that will add fresh chapters to this epic saga.
Stay tuned for more insights, live updates, and detailed analyses as India and South Africa continue to redefine excellence in international cricket.
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