Rohit Sharma has scored most runs in India vs South Africa T20Is; AB de Villiers is also Proteas run machine (Photo Credits: ICC/Facebook)
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).