One of the most storied and intense rivalries in all of international cricket is between the India National Cricket Team and South Africa National Cricket Team. From their first official encounter shortly after South Africa’s return to international sport in 1991 to the epic series across formats in 2024–2025, this timeline chronicles key moments and recent match results which encapsulate how two teams went at each other for three decades.
Origins of a Rivalry (1991 and Beyond)
Which is why when South Africa emerged from isolation in 1991, its cricketing journey against India started on a new canvas. Although early meetings were relatively infrequent, in every game was the opportunity for two powerful teams to march towards world class status. With time, the rivalry heated - stoked by contrasting strengths: India’s spin expertise and batting depth versus South Africa’s menacing pace armoury and cutthroat fielding.
Between Tests, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), the two countries have never shied away from going hammer and tongs against each other, giving birth to close matches and interesting records.
India vs South Africa Head to Head Records
| Format | Total Matches | India Wins | SA Wins | Draws/No Result | India Win % | SA Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 46 | 16 | 20 | 10 draws | 34.78% | 43.48% |
| ODIs | 97 | 42 | 52 | 3 NR | 43.30% | 53.61% |
| T20Is | 33 | 19 | 13 | 1 NR | 57.58% | 39.39% |
| Overall | 176 | 77 | 85 | 10 draw/4 NR | 45.76% | 47.63% |
India vs South Africa: Recent Matches 2024 – 2025
| Year | Match | Format | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | IND vs SA, 5th T20I | T20I | Ahmedabad | India won by 30 runs |
| 2025 | IND vs SA, 4th T20I | T20I | Lucknow | Match abandoned – due to excessive fog |
| 2025 | IND vs SA, 3rd T20I | T20I | Dharamsala | India won by 7 wkts |
| 2025 | IND vs SA, 2nd T20I | T20I | New Chandigarh | South Africa won by 51 runs |
| 2025 | IND vs SA, 1st T20I | T20I | Cuttack | India won by 101 runs |
| 2025 | IND vs SA, 3rd ODI | ODI | Visakhapatnam | India won by 9 wickets |
| 2025 | IND vs SA, 2nd ODI | ODI | Raipur | South Africa won by 4 wickets |
| 2025 | IND vs SA, 1st ODI | ODI | Ranchi | India won by 17 runs |
| 2025 | IND vs SA, 2nd Test | Test | Guwahati | South Africa won by 408 runs |
| 2025 | IND vs SA, 1st Test | Test | Kolkata | South Africa won by 30 runs |
| 2024 | SA vs IND, 4th T20I | T20I | Johannesburg | India won by 135 runs |
| 2024 | SA vs IND, 3rd T20I | T20I | Centurion | India won by 11 runs |
| 2024 | SA vs IND, 2nd T20I | T20I | Gqeberha | South Africa won by 3 wickets |
| 2024 | SA vs IND, 1st T20I | T20I | Durban | India won by 61 runs |
| 2024 | T20 World Cup Final | T20I | Bridgetown, Barbados | India won by 7 runs |
South Africa tour of India, 2025 Team Captain and Players
Team India
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Hardik Pandya (wicket-keeper), Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana
Team South Africa
Aiden Markram (c), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje
India National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline
Test Cricket: South Africa’s Edge
It is in the longest format, where South Africa has proved so consistently successful:
- South Africa picked up their first Test series win in India in 2000.
- India’s maiden Test win in South Africa – Johannesburg, 2006.
- India comfortably won prior home Tests, with 3-0 victories in 2015 and 2019.
- South Africa’s 2025 tour win (2–0) in Indian conditions among others was the tide turner.
In tests, South Africa has won 20 and Lost 16. The relatively high number of draws (10) is in keeping with traditional Test tussles where pitch and weather frequently had a say.
ODIs: A Close Contest with South Africa Slightly Ahead
In one-day-internationals, South Africa lead the head-to-head stats with 52 wins to India’s 42 (and three no results). Although South Africa’s overall win percentage is greater, bilateral series in recent years would suggest the gulf to be narrowing:
- The first ODI from these two sides in 1991 witnessed India triumph by three wickets.
- South Africa’s behemoth 438/4 at Wankhede Stadium in 2015 is one of the biggest ODI totals ever.
- Iconic performances such as Sachin Tendulkar’s 200 against South Africa (2010)* and Virat Kohli’s 160 vs SA* stand out in this rivalry.
India’s fighting spirit was also on display in the series win – This is India’s third consecutive series win against the Black Caps, who went down without too much of a fight after losing the second ODI.
T20Is: India’s Stronghold
India Now hold The Lead in T20I head to head with 19–13 (with 1 no result) that is their Best Record against South Africa.
Key T20I highlights include:
- First T20I meeting (2006) – India won Because of bad light, the game finished with 2 overs remaining from Pakistan turns and 1 over still to bat for Reply.
- Several memorable performances such as RP Singh’s 4/13 in 2007 and Yuvraj Singh’s match-winning cameos in big tournaments.
- Virat Kohli’s 76 in the 2024 T20 World Cup Final* was a key innings as India won the title.
In the T20I series of 2025, the teams have one win each to their name at this stage – a testimony how things change fast in this shortest format.
IND vs SA: All-Time Statistical Leaders in the Rivalry
Top Run-Scorers
| Format | Player | Team | Runs | Average | Highest Score |
| Test | Sachin Tendulkar | IND | 1741 | 46.37 | 214 |
| Test | Hashim Amla | SA | 1645 | 54.83 | 253* |
| ODI | Sachin Tendulkar | IND | 2001 | 58.85 | 200* |
| ODI | Virat Kohli | IND | 1806 | 69.46 | 160* |
| T20I | David Miller | SA | 524 | 43.67 | 106* |
| T20I | Virat Kohli | IND | 466 | 58.25 | 72 |
Top Wickets Takers
| Format | Player | Team | Wickets | Average | Best Figures |
| Test | Anil Kumble | IND | 84 | 28.85 | 6/53 |
| Test | Dale Steyn | SA | 79 | 25.49 | 7/51 |
| ODI | Shaun Pollock | SA | 48 | 29.75 | 5/36 |
| ODI | Zaheer Khan | IND | 39 | 31.82 | 5/42 |
| T20I | Arshdeep Singh | IND | 20 | 18.35 | 5/37 |
| T20I | Keshav Maharaj | SA | 13 | 27 | 4/22 |
Conclusion
Although timeline of in head to head India National Cricket team vs South Africa National cricket team features a history with drama, brilliance and balance as they thunder from nowhere. South Africa has historically edged India when it comes to Tests and ODIs, which India’s resurgence in all formats – including T20I – and white-ball cricket in general has kept that gap down.
From iconic individual records to gripping bilateral series taking place in 2024 and 2025, it shows how two cricketing nations can spur each other on towards greater heights – ensuring that the fans remain at the edge of their seats till the last ball is bowled.
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