India’s tour of South Africa has now entered the last leg as the two teams face-off in the game’s shortest format. The three-match T20I series starts with the opening match on February 18 at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. India lost the three-match Test series but then stunned the hosts by registering a historic series win in the six-match One-Day International (ODIs). India steamrolled South Africa and sealed the series 5-1. It was India’s maiden ODI series win in South Africa. Now after the ODIs, the focus shifts to T20Is and the Virat Kohli-led side will be looking to continue their winning momentum.
The visitors will hope to end the tour on a high. It has relatively been a good tour for India with players contributing in all the departments. Interestingly, South African batsmen will be once again tested by the wrist-spinners. The spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have been a force to reckon with and surprisingly have found assistance on pitches known to be seamer friendly.
Meanwhile, the three-match series is expected to be a closely contested one. However, it is India who start as the favourites. India will see the return of experienced middle-order batsman Suresh Raina and is likely to feature in the playing XI. As the two teams go head to head in the T20Is here’s a look at some stats:
India vs South Africa head-to-head in T20Is
Matches Played |
India Won |
South Africa Won |
10 |
6 |
4 |
India vs South Africa T20I series results
Series Played |
India Won |
South Africa Won |
4 |
2 |
2 |
India vs South Africa T20Is in South Africa
Matches Played |
India Won |
South Africa Won |
4 |
3 |
1 |
India vs South Africa series results in South Africa
Series Played |
India Won |
South Africa Won |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Highest Totals in India vs South Africa T20Is
Team |
Score |
Inns |
Date |
Venue |
South Africa |
219/4 |
1 |
30 Mar 2012 |
Jo’Burg |
South Africa |
200/3 |
2 |
02 Oct 2015 |
Dharamsala |
India |
199/5 |
1 |
02 Oct 2016 |
Dharamsala |
India |
186/5 |
1 |
02 May 2010 |
Gros Islet |
India |
176/4 |
2 |
04 April 2014 |
Dhaka |
Most Runs in India vs South Africa T20Is
Player |
Matches |
Inns |
Runs |
Highest Score |
100 |
50 |
Rohit Sharma |
8 |
7 |
309 |
106 |
1 |
2 |
Suresh Raina |
9 |
8 |
250 |
101 |
1 |
0 |
AB de Villiers |
9 |
9 |
208 |
63 |
0 |
2 |
JP Duminy |
7 |
75 |
173 |
68* |
0 |
1 |
Virat Kohli |
6 |
2 |
146 |
72* |
0 |
1 |
Most Wickets in India vs South Africa T20Is
Player |
Matches |
Wickets |
Best Bowling |
Econ |
Ravi Ashwin |
6 |
10 |
3/22 |
6.87 |
Zaheer Khan |
3 |
6 |
3/23 |
5.72 |
RP Singh |
2 |
5 |
4/133 |
5.66 |
Yusuf Pathan |
4 |
4 |
2/22 |
9.12 |
Johan Botha |
4 |
4 |
3/16 |
7.36 |
India has had a decent run in South Africa when it comes to T20Is and the three victories, out of four matches, prove it.
Meanwhile, India, ranked three in T20Is, will have a chance to jump to second place if they beat South Africa 3-0. A 2-1 result in favour of India will see no change in their rankings. In case South Africa win by 3-0, India will drop to the fifth position. And 2-1 result in favour of South Africa will see India drop to fourth.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 17, 2018 11:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).