The India National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team timeline began in November 1991, when South Africa emerged from their cricket hangover following years without the sport due to autocratic isolation. Since then both teams have also created an entertaining rivalry in Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is. Their clashes have brought about unforgettable cricket where, from historic bilateral series to the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
India National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline – Overview
India vs South Africa is so competitive in international cricket by every unit. It began with ODIs in India in 1991 and their first Test series, still fresh from the end of apartheid, at home in South Africa in 1992.
The rivalry has hosted some legendary players over the years like Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli and Dale Steyn.
| Particulars | Details |
| Teams | India vs South Africa |
| First International Match | 10 November 1991 |
| First Match Format | ODI |
| First Match Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| First Test Match | 13 November 1992 |
| First T20I Match | 1 December 2006 |
| First ODI Winner | India |
| First T20I Winner | India |
| 2024 T20 World Cup Final | India won by 7 runs |
| Formats | Tests, ODIs, T20Is |
India National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline: Year-by-Year History
1991–2000: Beginning of the Historic Rivalry
It officially began on November 10, 1991 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. India beat South Africa by three wickets in the first ODI of the two sides.
In one of the biggest Test matches ever featured, India toured South Africa for a historic Test series in November 1992. South Africa won the 4-match series 1–0
South Africa evolved into not only the best ODI team during the 90s but also India relying on phenomenal performances of Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Azharuddin and Anil Kumble.
| Year | Major Event |
| 1991 | India and South Africa played their first ODI |
| 1992 | South Africa won the first Test series 1–0 |
| 1996 | India won the home Test series 2–1 |
| 1997 | South Africa won the home Test series 2–0 |
| 2000 | South Africa won the Test series in India 2–0 |
2001–2010: Competitive Test and ODI Battles
In fact, the period from 2001 to 2010 saw this popularity and competition heightened. Under Sourav Ganguly, and later MS Dhoni, India became a Test team which could be a match for all facilities of the cricketing world.
On 30 December 2006, India achieved their maiden Test win in South Africa at Johannesburg by 123 runs.
This tour also consisted of one of the first T20I matches for both countries, wherein India secured a six-wicket victory.
Sachin Tendulkar was the first male cricketer to hit a double century in ODIs scoring 200* against South Africa at Gwalior in February 2010.
| Year | Major Highlight |
| 2001 | South Africa won the home Test series 1–0 |
| 2004 | India won the home Test series 1–0 |
| 2006 | India achieved their first Test win in South Africa |
| 2006 | India won the first T20I between the teams |
| 2008 | Test series in India ended 1–1 |
| 2010 | Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 200 in an ODI |
2011–2020: Rise of T20 Cricket and Major Series
The span saw a bunch of iconic knocks in all formats.
To date, South Africa’s home Test series victory came in 2013 with a 1–0 win. Nonetheless, India cantered to a 3–0 victory in the 2015 home Test series.
In 2018, India reached their first GREAT ODI milestone when they won their First bilateral ODI series with South Africa by a score of 5–1.
Jun 05, 2023 · During the 2019 ODI World Cup, India had defeated South Africa by six wickets with an unbeaten century from Rohit Sharma (122)
| Year | Major Event |
| 2011 | India defeated South Africa in the Cape Town Test |
| 2013 | South Africa won the home Test series 1–0 |
| 2015 | India won the home Test series 3–0 |
| 2018 | India won the ODI series in South Africa 5–1 |
| 2019 | India defeated South Africa in the ODI World Cup |
| 2019 | India won the home Test series 3–0 |
2021–2024: ICC Tournaments and T20 World Cup Final
It began with the win at Centurion in South Africa’s Test series against India 2021. But South Africa managed to prevail and take the series 2–1.
Eden Gardens, Kolkata: India defeated South Africa by 243 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Virat Kohli made 101 not out.
The high point came on 29 June 2024, when India beat South Africa by seven runs in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final at Barbados.
For India, it was 176/7 and for the opponent side South Africa scored 169/8. Virat Kohli 76 and Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliant bowling.
| Year | Major Highlight |
| 2021 | India won the Centurion Test |
| 2022 | South Africa won the Test series 2–1 |
| 2023 | India beat South Africa by 243 runs in the ODI World Cup |
| 2024 | India won the Cape Town Test by seven wickets |
| 2024 | India defeated South Africa in the T20 World Cup final |
| 2024 | India won the four-match T20I series in South Africa 3–1 |
2025–2026: Latest Matches and Series Results
Another major chapter in the India vs South Africa cricket rivalry arrives in the period of 2025–26.
November–December 2025 – South Africa tour of India for two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is The Test series was easily won by South Africa, with the one-day games being more favourable to India.
South Africa, Ahmedabad – February 2026: South Africa won the toss in this T20 World Cup Super Eight stage match and batted first before beating India by 76 runs.
| Year | Series or Tournament | Result |
| 2025 | Two-match Test series | South Africa won 2–0 |
| 2025 | Three-match ODI series | India won 2–1 |
| 2025 | Five-match T20I series | India won 3–1, one abandoned |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup Super Eight | South Africa won by 76 runs |
India vs South Africa Head-to-Head Records
| Format | Matches | India Won | South Africa Won | Draw/No Result |
| Tests | 46 | 16 | 20 | 10 |
| ODIs | 97 | 42 | 52 | 3 |
| T20Is | 36 | 21 | 14 | 1 |
| Total | 179 | 79 | 86 | 14 |
India vs South Africa ICC Tournament History
ODI World Cup Encounters
| Year | Winner |
| 1992 | South Africa |
| 1999 | South Africa |
| 2011 | South Africa |
| 2015 | India |
| 2019 | India |
| 2023 | India |
T20 World Cup Encounters
The T20 World Cup has seen India and South Africa face each other routinely.
India were victors in the memorable 2007 clash at Durban and eliminated South Africa from the semifinal stage in 2014. South Africa were victorious in Perth when they met in 2022.
On the other hand, this will become the 2024 final seven-run victory for India, followed by a crushing entry-stage dismissal in three Super Eight stages.
Champions Trophy Encounters
India faced South Africa in the semifinal of the 2000 Champions Trophy which they lost, but they had won their meetings in the 2002, 2013 and 2017 editions.
The 2017 fixture was even more significant, as India beat Pakistan by eight wickets to progress to the semifinals.
India vs South Africa Highest and Lowest Team Scores
| Format | Team | Record | Year |
| Test | India | 643/6 declared | 2010 |
| Test | South Africa | 620/4 declared | 2010 |
| Test lowest | India | 66 all out | 1996 |
| Test lowest | South Africa | 55 all out | 2024 |
| ODI highest | South Africa | 438/4 | 2015 |
| ODI highest | India | 401/3 | 2010 |
| ODI lowest | India | 91 all out | 2006 |
| ODI lowest | South Africa | 83 all out | 2023 |
| T20I highest | India | 283/1 | 2024 |
| T20I lowest | South Africa | 74 all out | 2025 |
Most Memorable India vs South Africa Cricket Matches
| Year | Match | Why It Was Memorable |
| 1991 | Kolkata ODI | First international meeting |
| 2006 | Johannesburg Test | India’s first Test victory in South Africa |
| 2010 | Gwalior ODI | Sachin Tendulkar scored 200 not out |
| 2018 | ODI series | India’s first bilateral ODI series win in South Africa |
| 2023 | Kolkata ODI | India won by 243 runs |
| 2024 | T20 World Cup final | India won the title by seven runs |
| 2025 | Guwahati Test | South Africa won by 408 runs |
| 2026 | Ahmedabad T20 World Cup | South Africa defeated India by 76 runs |
India vs South Africa Top Run Scorers and Wicket Takers
| Player | Team | Notable Achievement |
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | First men’s ODI double century, 200* |
| Virat Kohli | India | 101* in the 2023 ODI World Cup |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 122* in the 2019 ODI World Cup |
| Jacques Kallis | South Africa | Prolific Test batter and all-rounder |
| AB de Villiers | South Africa | Outstanding ODI performances |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | India | Major contributor to India’s Test success |
| Dale Steyn | South Africa | Leading fast-bowling performances |
| Kuldeep Yadav | India | Five-wicket hauls in white-ball cricket |
India vs South Africa Recent Match Results (2024-2026)
| Date | Format | Winner | Margin |
| 29 June 2024 | T20 World Cup final | India | 7 runs |
| 15 November 2024 | T20I | India | 135 runs |
| 14 November 2025 | Test | South Africa | 30 runs |
| 22 November 2025 | Test | South Africa | 408 runs |
| 30 November 2025 | ODI | India | 17 runs |
| 3 December 2025 | ODI | South Africa | 4 wickets |
| 6 December 2025 | ODI | India | 9 wickets |
| 19 December 2025 | T20I | India | 30 runs |
| 22 February 2026 | T20 World Cup | South Africa | 76 runs |
Conclusion
India National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team timeline represents the history of more than three decades of competitive international cricket. Both teams have given us epic memories, from the 1991 meeting to India’s T20 World Cup victory in 2024 and South Africa’s wins in 2025-26.
Historically, South Africa have the advantage in Tests and ODIs while India lead the T20I records. The rivalry continues to be treated as one of the most entertaining contests in world cricket.
FAQs
When did India and South Africa first play against each other?
India and South Africa first played an international match on 10 November 1991 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. India won the ODI by three wickets.
Who has won more matches, India or South Africa?
South Africa lead the overall men’s international head-to-head record with 86 wins, compared with India’s 79 victories across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is through February 2026.
Who won the India vs South Africa T20 World Cup 2024 final?
India defeated South Africa by seven runs on 29 June 2024 in Barbados to win their second Men’s T20 World Cup title.
What is India’s highest score against South Africa?
India’s highest Test score against South Africa is 643/6 declared, recorded in Kolkata in 2010. Their highest ODI score is 401/3, while their highest T20I total is 283/1.
How many Test matches have India and South Africa played?
India and South Africa have played 46 Test matches. South Africa have won 20, India have won 16, and 10 matches have ended in draws.
Who has scored the most runs in India vs South Africa matches?
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs in India vs South Africa Test cricket, scoring 1,741 runs. Jacques Kallis followed with 1,734 runs.
Also Read:
Pakistan National Cricket Team vs England Cricket Team Timeline
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