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The rivalry between the South Africa national cricket team and the India national cricket team has produced some of the most competitive matches in modern international cricket. From Test battles in the early 1990s to high-scoring ODI contests and dramatic T20I encounters, the two teams have repeatedly challenged each other across formats. The latest head-to-head figures show a different pattern in each format: South Africa have the advantage in Tests and ODIs, while India have won more T20Is. As of 2026, the teams have played 46 Tests, 97 ODIs and 36 T20Is against each other.
South Africa vs India Head-to-Head Stats
| Format | Matches | India Wins | South Africa Wins | Other Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 46 | 16 | 20 | 10 Draws |
| ODIs | 97 | 42 | 52 | 3 No Results |
| T20Is | 36 | 21 | 14 | 1 No Result |
The overall numbers underline how different the rivalry has been depending on format. South Africa have won 20 of the 46 Tests, compared with India’s 16, while 10 Tests have been drawn. In ODIs, South Africa have 52 victories to India’s 42, with three matches producing no result. T20Is have followed a different pattern, with India winning 21 of 36 meetings and South Africa winning 14. One T20I has ended without a result.
These figures also show why a single overall record does not completely describe the rivalry. Test and ODI statistics favor South Africa, while India’s T20I record is stronger.
Test Cricket Stats
India and South Africa began their Test rivalry in 1992, when India toured South Africa following South Africa’s return to international cricket. Since then, 46 Tests have been played between the teams.
South Africa have won 20 Tests and India have won 16, while 10 matches have ended in draws. The two sides have therefore produced a substantial number of decisive Test matches despite the presence of several drawn contests.
Test Head-to-Head Record
| Test Statistic | India | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 46 | 46 |
| Wins | 16 | 20 |
| Losses | 20 | 16 |
| Draws | 10 | 10 |
| Ties | 0 | 0 |
One of the most notable periods in the Test rivalry came during India’s home series against South Africa. India won the 2015-16 series 3-0 and repeated that scoreline in the 2019-20 series. South Africa, however, won the two-Test series in India in 2025 by 2-0.
The 2025 series produced particularly significant results. South Africa won the first Test by 30 runs and then won the second by 408 runs, completing a 2-0 sweep.
The 2023-24 series in South Africa was split 1-1. South Africa won the first Test in Centurion by an innings and 32 runs, while India responded in Cape Town with a seven-wicket victory.
India vs South Africa ODI Stats
The ODI rivalry is even larger, with 97 matches recorded between the teams through the end of the 2025 ODI series. South Africa have won 52, India have won 42 and three matches have ended without a result.
| ODI Statistic | India | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 97 | 97 |
| Wins | 42 | 52 |
| Losses | 52 | 42 |
| No Results | 3 | 3 |
| Ties | 0 | 0 |
The venue split adds another layer to the numbers. India have won 20 of their 35 ODIs against South Africa in India, while South Africa have won 26 of 40 matches in South Africa. On neutral grounds, the record has been much closer, with South Africa holding an 11-10 advantage in the cited 97-match record.
Highest ODI Team Totals
The fixture has produced some extraordinary totals.
South Africa’s 438/4 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on October 25, 2015 remains the highest team total in an India-South Africa ODI. India had earlier posted 401/3 at Gwalior in February 2010, with Sachin Tendulkar making the first men’s ODI double century.
| Team | Score | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 438/4 | Wankhede, Mumbai | 25 Oct 2015 |
| India | 401/3 | Gwalior | 24 Feb 2010 |
| South Africa | 365/2 | Ahmedabad | 27 Feb 2010 |
| South Africa | 362/6 | Raipur | 3 Dec 2025 |
| India | 358/5 | Raipur | 3 Dec 2025 |
The 2025 Raipur ODI was another remarkable run-scoring contest. South Africa made 362/6 after India scored 358/5, producing a combined total of 720 runs.
Leading ODI Batting Records
Several legendary batsmen have dominated the statistical record between the teams.
Sachin Tendulkar leads India’s run-scoring against South Africa in ODIs with 2,001 runs. Jacques Kallis is South Africa’s leading run-scorer in the fixture with 1,535 runs. Virat Kohli has also built an outstanding record, with more than 1,500 ODI runs against South Africa in the available statistical records.
Highest Individual ODI Scores
| Player | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 200* |
| Virat Kohli | India | 160* |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 150 |
| Sourav Ganguly | India | 141* |
| Shikhar Dhawan | India | 137 |
| Quinton de Kock | South Africa | 135 |
Tendulkar’s unbeaten 200 came at Gwalior on February 24, 2010. He reached the landmark from 147 balls, helping India post 401/3 and win by 153 runs.
Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 160 at Cape Town is another major individual performance in this rivalry. For South Africa, Quinton de Kock’s 135 is among the highest individual scores recorded against India.
Leading ODI Bowling Records
The bowling rivalry has featured some of the greatest names from both countries.
Shaun Pollock leads the overall wicket tally in India-South Africa ODIs with 48 wickets, while Anil Kumble leads India’s wicket-takers with 46. Allan Donald’s 5/29 is listed among South Africa’s best bowling performances, while Sunil Joshi’s 5/6 is India’s best individual bowling figure in the cited head-to-head statistics.
| Bowling Record | Player | Figures |
|---|---|---|
| Most wickets overall | Shaun Pollock | 48 |
| Most wickets for India | Anil Kumble | 46 |
| Best South African bowling | Allan Donald | 5/29 |
| Best Indian bowling | Sunil Joshi | 5/6 |
The 2025 ODI series also produced strong performances from India’s spin department. Kuldeep Yadav took 4/41 in the third ODI and finished the series as India’s leading wicket-taker with nine wickets.
T20I Head-to-Head Stats
The T20I rivalry began in 2006, when India and South Africa met in Johannesburg. The shortest format has generally favored India in terms of the overall head-to-head record.
The teams have played 36 T20Is. India have won 21, South Africa have won 14 and one match has ended without a result.
| T20I Statistic | India | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 36 | 36 |
| Wins | 21 | 14 |
| Losses | 14 | 21 |
| No Results | 1 | 1 |
| Ties | 0 | 0 |
Recent meetings have shown how quickly the balance can change. During the 2025 T20I series in India, the sides played five matches, with India winning the first, third and fifth games while South Africa won the second. The fourth match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
2024 T20 World Cup Final
One of the most important India-South Africa matches came in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final in Barbados.
India scored 176/7 and South Africa replied with 169/8. India won by seven runs, securing the T20 World Cup title.
The match remains one of the defining T20I encounters between the teams because South Africa were within reach of the target before India’s bowling attack closed out the chase.
2026 T20 World Cup Meeting
The teams met again at the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad on February 22, 2026.
South Africa scored 187/7 and bowled India out for 111 in 18.5 overs, winning by 76 runs. David Miller scored 63 from 35 balls, while Dewald Brevis made 45 and Tristan Stubbs finished unbeaten on 44. Marco Jansen took 4/22.
The result added another major tournament chapter to the rivalry and demonstrated South Africa’s ability to produce a strong all-round performance against India in T20 cricket.
Major India vs South Africa Statistical Records
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Test matches | 46 |
| India Test wins | 16 |
| South Africa Test wins | 20 |
| Test draws | 10 |
| ODI matches | 97 |
| India ODI wins | 42 |
| South Africa ODI wins | 52 |
| ODI no-results | 3 |
| T20Is | 36 |
| India T20I wins | 21 |
| South Africa T20I wins | 14 |
| T20I no-results | 1 |
| Highest ODI total | South Africa 438/4 |
| Highest India ODI score vs SA | Sachin Tendulkar 200* |
| Highest SA ODI score vs India | Quinton de Kock 135 |
| Most ODI wickets in fixture | Shaun Pollock, 48 |
| Most India ODI wickets vs SA | Anil Kumble, 46 |
The head-to-head statistics show a rivalry divided by format. South Africa have the stronger historical record in Tests and ODIs, while India have won more T20Is.
Memorable Matches Between India and South Africa
1992: First Test Series
India and South Africa first met in Test cricket in 1992-93 after South Africa returned to the international Test arena. The four-Test series in South Africa ended with South Africa winning one match and three being drawn.
2010: Tendulkar’s ODI Double Century
The Gwalior ODI in 2010 became historic when Tendulkar scored 200 not out. India reached 401/3 and won by 153 runs.
2015: South Africa’s 438
South Africa produced one of the most explosive ODI innings in Mumbai in 2015, scoring 438/4. AB de Villiers contributed 119 from 61 balls, while South Africa won by 214 runs.
2019: India’s Huge Test Win
India dominated South Africa in Pune during the 2019 Test series, eventually winning by an innings and 137 runs. Later in the series at Ranchi, India won by an innings and 202 runs. India’s 3-0 series sweep was one of their strongest home performances against South Africa.
2024: T20 World Cup Final
India defeated South Africa by seven runs in the 2024 T20 World Cup final after defending 176/7.
2025: South Africa’s Test Sweep
South Africa won both Tests in India’s 2025 home series, including a 408-run victory in the second Test. The result gave South Africa a 2-0 series win.
Why the Stats Make This Rivalry Interesting
The statistical contrast between the formats is one of the defining features of India vs South Africa cricket.
In Tests, South Africa have 20 wins compared with India’s 16. In ODIs, the difference is wider, with South Africa holding a 52-42 advantage. T20Is reverse that pattern, with India leading 21-14.
The batting records are similarly diverse. Tendulkar’s 200, Kohli’s 160*, South Africa’s 438/4 and the 720-run combined total in Raipur all demonstrate the scoring potential of this matchup.
At the same time, the Test record has been shaped by fast bowlers, spinners and challenging conditions in both countries. The two sides have produced long-running contests involving players such as Anil Kumble, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, Virat Kohli, Dale Steyn and many others.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many Tests 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.
2. Who has won more India vs South Africa ODIs?
South Africa have won more ODIs. In the 97-match head-to-head record, South Africa have 52 wins compared with India’s 42, while three matches have ended without a result.
3. Who has won more India vs South Africa T20Is?
India have won more T20Is. India have 21 victories from 36 meetings, while South Africa have won 14. One match has ended without a result.
4. What is the highest ODI score in India vs South Africa matches?
Sachin Tendulkar’s unbeaten 200 is the highest individual ODI score in the rivalry. He made the score at Gwalior in 2010 from 147 balls.
5. What is the highest team total in India vs South Africa ODIs?
South Africa’s 438/4 at Wankhede in Mumbai on October 25, 2015 is the highest team total in an India-South Africa ODI. India have also crossed 400, scoring 401/3 at Gwalior in 2010.
Conclusion
The South Africa national cricket team vs India national cricket team stats reveal a rivalry with a different story in every format. South Africa have the stronger historical Test and ODI records, with 20 Test wins and 52 ODI wins. India have the advantage in T20Is, where they have won 21 of 36 meetings.
The rivalry has also generated remarkable individual and team records, including Sachin Tendulkar’s 200*, South Africa’s 438/4, India’s 401/3 and several memorable World Cup encounters. With both teams continuing to produce elite batsmen, fast bowlers and match-winning all-rounders, the statistical history between India and South Africa continues to expand with every new series.
