The feud between the India National Cricket Team and the South Africa National Cricket Team has developed into one of the most fascinating chapters in international cricket. Many generations and levels of intense matches later, you can find a summary of the milestones, matches of significance, unforgettable moments and the development of both teams when they play against each other. Both teams have played exciting matches across all levels since. In Test match series and T20 World Cups across formats, you can read about there exciting matches, monumental moments, and performances that have marked their adventure in cricket.
Early Encounters: 1991–2000
South Africa tour of India 1991/92
South Africa’s first ODI series was against India in 1991, which India won by 2–1. The 1992 test series followed, and South Africa won that cricket match. In the 1990s, Allan Donald, Hansie Cronje, and Sachin Tendulkar starred in matches that sparked fierce competition between both teams and lifetime memories for fans and players alike.
| Date | Venue | Match format | India Score | South Africa Score | Results |
| Sun 10 Nov 1991 | Eden Gardens | 1st ODI | 178/7 | 177/8 | India won by 3 wickets (with 38 balls remaining) |
| Tue 12 Nov !991 | Gwalior | 2nd ODI | 223/6 | 185/8 | India won by 38 runs |
| Thu 14 Nov 1991 | New Delhi | 3rd ODI | 287/4 | 288/2 | South Africa won by 8 wickets (with 20 balls remaining) |
- 1991 ODI debut series: India won 2–1.
- 1992–93: First Test series, South Africa won 1–0.
- Key stars: Allan Donald, Hansie Cronje, Sachin Tendulkar.
Read Also: West Indies Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Timeline
Establishing the Rivalry: Mid-1990s to Early 2000s
In the mid 1990s, bilateral series were very competitive. For example, in 1996-97, India and South Africa played each other twice, with South Africa winning each series in familiar conditions. The highlight of matches between the two teams were the matches during the 1999 World Cup and Sourav Ganguly’s score of 141 in the Knock-Out in 2000, creating a memorable period of India’s ascent as a serious ODI contender. The South Africa tour of India in 2000 produced very exciting cricket contests in all formats. In the Test series, South Africa showed clinical form winning 2 – 0, but easily winning their last Test by an innings at Bengaluru. All the matches in the ODI series provided exciting competition. India grabbed wins in Kochi, Jamshedpur, and Vadodara, whilst South Africa bounced back in Faridabad and Nagpur. Ultimately, India secured the ODI series 3 – 2 and South Africa secured the Test series 2 – 0. Thus, the tour is remembered as a close and highly contested series against rivals.
- 1996–97: South Africa dominated Test series at home.
- 1999 World Cup: South Africa beat India.
- 2000 Knock-Out: Ganguly’s century led India’s win.
| Date | Match Type | Venue | India Scores | South Africa Scores | Result |
| Sat, 19 Feb 2000 | Tour Match | Brabourne | 172 & 181/8 (T:329) | 293/6d & 207/5d | Match drawn |
| Thu, 24 Feb 2000 | 1st Test | Wankhede | 225 & 113 | 176 & 164/6 (T:163) | South Africa won by 4 wickets |
| Thu, 02 Mar 2000 | 2nd Test | Bengaluru | 158 & 250 | 479 | South Africa won by an innings and 71 runs |
| Thu, 09 Mar 2000 | 1st ODI | Kochi | 302/7 (49.4/50 ov, T:302) | 301/3 | India won by 3 wickets (2 balls remaining) |
| Sun, 12 Mar 2000 | 2nd ODI | Jamshedpur | 203/4 (47.1/50 ov, T:200) | 199 | India won by 6 wickets (17 balls remaining) |
| Wed, 15 Mar 2000 | 3rd ODI | Faridabad | 248/8 | 251/8 (48/49 ov, T:249) | South Africa won by 2 wickets (6 balls remaining) |
| Fri, 17 Mar 2000 | 4th ODI | Vadodara | 283/6 (49.5/50 ov, T:283) | 282/5 | India won by 4 wickets (1 ball remaining) |
| Sun, 19 Mar 2000 | 5th ODI | Nagpur | 310 (48.5/50 ov, T:321) | 320/7 | South Africa won by 10 runs |
Test Rivalry and the Gandhi–Mandela Trophy Era
The symbol of Test cricket was enhanced with the formation of the Gandhi–Mandela Trophy in 2015, and later renamed the Freedom Trophy, and from there South Africa had generally been home dominant, but India dug deep in subcontinent conditions. Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin had emerged as the best individual players in these new era of Test matches.
ODI and T20 Rivalry: Stats & Highlights
ODIs have proven to be tightly contested, with South Africa having an overall edge although not significantly. India has had the overall upper hand in ICC events, particularly the Champions Trophy. In T20 format, India holds the overall lead in the head-to-head record, and the rivalry has produced many exciting matches with high scores.
- ODIs: South Africa leads overall record.
- EI: India undefeated vs South Africa.
- T20Is: India leads 18-12 in the head-to-head record.
India vs South Africa Head to Head Record in T20 Matches
| India | South Africa | |
| Match Played | 31 | 31 |
| Won | 18 | 12 |
| Lost | 12 | 18 |
| No result | 1 | 1 |
India vs South Africa-Recent T20 Matches
| Date | Match Type | Venue/Series (if any) | India Score | South Africa Score | Result |
| 15 Nov 2024 | 4th T20I | India vs South Africa | 283/1 | 148 | India won by 135 runs |
| 13 Nov 2024 | 3rd T20I | India vs South Africa | 219/6 | 208/7 | India won by 11 runs |
| 10 Nov 2024 | 2nd T20I | India vs South Africa | 124/6 | 128/7 | South Africa won by 3 wickets |
| 8 Nov 2024 | 1st T20I | India vs South Africa | 202/8 | 141 | India won by 61 runs |
| 29 Jun 2024 | Final | India vs South Africa | 176/7 | 169/8 | India won by 7 runs |
| 14 Dec 2023 | 3rd T20I | India vs South Africa | 201/7 | 95 | India won by 106 runs |
India Vs South Africa Head to Head Record in ODI Match
| India | South Africa | |
| Match Played | 94 | 94 |
| Won | 40 | 51 |
| Lost | 51 | 40 |
| No result | 3 | 3 |
| Home Won | 18 | 22 |
Recent ODI Match Results
In these recent ODI encounters, India has clearly dominated South Africa, winning five of the six matches. India registered emphatic victories, including a massive 243-run win in November 2023 and another strong performance in December 2023 where they sealed the series 2-1. South Africa managed just one win (by 8 wickets in the 2nd ODI on 19 December 2023), but overall, India showcased consistency with both bat and ball, maintaining superiority in the rivalry.
| Date | Match Type | India Score | South Africa Score | Result |
| 21 Dec 2023 | 3rd ODI | 296/8 | 218 | India won by 78 runs |
| 19 Dec 2023 | 2nd ODI | 211 | 215/2 | South Africa won by 8 wickets |
| 17 Dec 2023 | 1st ODI | 117/2 | 116 | India won by 8 wickets |
| 5 Nov 2023 | Match 37 | 326/5 | 83 | India won by 243 runs |
| 11 Oct 2022 | 3rd ODI | 105/3 | 99 | India won by 7 wickets |
| 9 Oct 2022 | 2nd ODI | 282/3 | 278/7 | India won by 7 wickets |
India vs South Africa Head to Head in Test Matches
| India | South Africa | |
| Match Played | 44 | 44 |
| Won | 16 | 18 |
| Lost | 18 | 16 |
| Drawn | 10 | 10 |
| Home Won | 11 | 13 |
The two most recent Test matches between India and South Africa have been contested closely, with the two teams serving up great different victories against one another. India completed dominant wins, including the historic innings victory in Ranchi (2019) and their clinical comeback win in Cape Town (2024). South Africa was able to assert home dominance, taking home the two most recent Test match wins in the 2021-22 series and fantastic innings victory in Centurion (2023). These competitive encounters have continued to fuel a competitive rivalry and these momentum shifts leave both teams and their followers excited about what the next encounter will bring, in whatever conditions and venue they meet.
| Date | Match Type | South Africa Score | India Score | Result |
| 3 Jan 2024 | 2nd Test | 55 & 176 | 153 & 80/3 | India won by 7 wickets |
| 26 Dec 2023 | 1st Test | 408 | 245 & 131 | South Africa won by an innings and 32 runs |
| 11 Jan 2022 | 3rd Test | 210 & 212/3 | 223 & 198 | South Africa won by 7 wickets |
| 3 Jan 2022 | 2nd Test | 229 & 243/3 | 202 & 266 | South Africa won by 7 wickets |
| 26 Dec 2021 | 1st Test | 197 & 191 | 327 & 174 | India won by 113 runs |
| 19 Oct 2019 | 3rd Test | 162 & 133 f/o | 497/9 decl | India won by an innings and 202 runs |
Crowning Glory: 2024 T20 World Cup Final
The rivalry reached its pinnacle globally during the 2024 T20 World Cup Final where India beat South Africa by 7 runs in Barbados. In a match that was built around Virat Kohli’s special innings and Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance, this was a new iconic chapter in the rivalry.
- 2024 T20 World Cup Final, Barbados.
- India won by 7 runs.
- Kohli made 76 runs, Bumrah’s bowling was the decisive factor.
Conclusion
The India – South Africa rivalry is about much more than numbers; it represents togetherness, pride and excellence in cricket. Both countries have continued to inspire each other to new heights of excellence allowing cricket fans to experience many special memories of cricket. The fixture is one of the most valuable in world cricket regardless of the format, whether Test, ODI or T20.
