The rivalry between the South Africa national cricket team and the India national cricket team players is one of cricket’s most enthralling sagas, where pace meets precision, spin clashes with resilience, and individual brilliance often decides epic battles.
This contest features South Africa’s lethal pace attack, spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada’s thunderous deliveries and Anrich Nortje’s raw speed, testing India’s batting maestros like Virat Kohli’s unyielding chase mastery and Rohit Sharma’s explosive powerplay dominance. Iconic moments define this matchup, such as India’s heart-pounding 7-run victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup final at Bridgetown, where Jasprit Bumrah’s death-over yorkers denied Heinrich Klaasen’s valiant 52, or South Africa’s gritty 8-wicket triumph in the 2023 ODI series decider at Gqeberha, with Tony de Zorzi’s unbeaten 119* showcasing emerging talent.
Tactical duels add depth: SA’s seamers exploit bounce to challenge India’s top-order depth, while India’s spinners, led by Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist-spin variations, expose SA’s middle-order vulnerabilities on subcontinental tracks. Key players like Suryakumar Yadav’s 360-degree innovation for India versus Marco Jansen’s left-arm angle for SA create compelling narratives. Emerging stars amplify the intensity—Yashasvi Jaiswal for India, fresh from a stellar ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with a match-winning 214* in the semifinals, faces SA’s Tristan Stubbs, whose aggressive middle-order knocks (strike rate over 150 in CT) reflect 2025 trends like boundary-pushing in powerplays and strategic DRS calls that turned games, such as a reviewed lbw saving Babar Azam in a 2024 T20I.
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This player-focused rivalry highlights endurance, with DRS moments often pivotal, like in the 2024 WC final where an upheld catch dismissed David Miller. Scorecards are essential for fans, revealing player stats, strategic insights like economy rates in death overs, and performance trends, such as Rabada’s 25+ wickets against India in recent series. They enable analysis of batting depths and bowling economies, aiding predictions for future encounters. For real-time excitement, apps like Cricbuzz deliver seamless live scores. As we delve into this rivalry up to August 2025, incorporating CT 2025 highlights where India triumphed over New Zealand in the final and South Africa fell in semis to NZ, this article spotlights the players driving these high-stakes dramas.
Latest Matches
The latest player battles between SA and IND have been electrifying, from the 2024 T20I series in SA where India’s batsmen like Samson dazzled, to the T20 WC final’s tense finish. The 2024/25 tour featured T20Is only, with IND dominating 3-1, highlighting Jaiswal’s CT-inspired aggression and Rabada’s bounce. No ODIs or Tests in 2025 up to August, but CT saw no direct clash, with India’s win and SA’s semi loss influencing player forms. Below are 8 recent matches, detailed from ESPNcricinfo.
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | South Africa Score | India Score | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th T20I | Johannesburg | November 15, 2024 | IND (bat) | 148/10 (18.2 ov) | 283/1 (20 ov) | 🇮🇳 won by 135 runs | India tour of SA 2024/25 | Tilak Varma (IND) |
| 3rd T20I | Centurion | November 13, 2024 | SA (bat) | 208/7 (20 ov) | 219/6 (20 ov) | 🇮🇳 won by 11 runs | India tour of SA 2024/25 | Arshdeep Singh (IND) |
| 2nd T20I | Gqeberha | November 10, 2024 | IND (bat) | 128/7 (19 ov) | 124/6 (20 ov) | 🇿🇦 won by 3 wickets | India tour of SA 2024/25 | Tristan Stubbs (SA) |
| 1st T20I | Durban | November 8, 2024 | SA (bat) | 141/5 (17 ov) | 202/8 (20 ov) | 🇮🇳 won by 61 runs | India tour of SA 2024/25 | Sanju Samson (IND) |
| Final | Bridgetown | June 29, 2024 | IND (bat) | 169/8 (20 ov) | 176/7 (20 ov) | 🇮🇳 won by 7 runs | ICC Men’s T20 WC 2024 | Virat Kohli (IND) |
| 3rd T20I | Delhi | October 11, 2022 | IND (bat) | 105/7 (19.1 ov) | 99/8 (20 ov) | 🇿🇦 won by 7 wickets | SA tour of IND 2022 | Rilee Rossouw (SA) |
| 2nd T20I | Guwahati | October 2, 2022 | SA (bat) | 221/3 (20 ov) | 237/3 (20 ov) | 🇮🇳 won by 16 runs | SA tour of IND 2022 | KL Rahul (IND) |
| 1st T20I | Thiruvananthapuram | September 28, 2022 | SA (bat) | 106/8 (20 ov) | 110/2 (16.4 ov) | 🇮🇳 won by 8 wickets | SA tour of IND 2022 | Arshdeep Singh (IND) |
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Last 10 T20I Matches
T20Is showcase dynamic player clashes, with IND leading 7-3. The 2024 SA series (3-1 IND) featured Samson’s centuries, Arshdeep’s swing.
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | South Africa Score | India Score | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th T20I | Johannesburg | November 15, 2024 | IND (bat) | 148/10 (18.2 ov) 🇿🇦 | 283/1 (20 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 135 runs | India tour of SA 2024/25 | Tilak Varma |
| 3rd T20I | Centurion | November 13, 2024 | SA (bat) | 208/7 (20 ov) 🇿🇦 | 219/6 (20 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 11 runs | India tour of SA 2024/25 | Arshdeep Singh |
| 2nd T20I | Gqeberha | November 10, 2024 | IND (bat) | 128/7 (19 ov) 🇿🇦 | 124/6 (20 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇿🇦 won by 3 wickets | India tour of SA 2024/25 | Tristan Stubbs |
| 1st T20I | Durban | November 8, 2024 | SA (bat) | 141/5 (17 ov) 🇿🇦 | 202/8 (20 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 61 runs | India tour of SA 2024/25 | Sanju Samson |
| Final | Bridgetown | June 29, 2024 | IND (bat) | 169/8 (20 ov) 🇿🇦 | 176/7 (20 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 7 runs | ICC Men’s T20 WC 2024 | Virat Kohli |
| 3rd T20I | Delhi | October 11, 2022 | IND (bat) | 105/7 (19.1 ov) 🇿🇦 | 99/8 (20 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇿🇦 won by 7 wickets | SA tour of IND 2022 | Rilee Rossouw (SA) |
| 2nd T20I | Guwahati | October 2, 2022 | SA (bat) | 221/3 (20 ov) 🇿🇦 | 237/3 (20 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 16 runs | SA tour of IND 2022 | KL Rahul (IND) |
| 1st T20I | Thiruvananthapuram | September 28, 2022 | SA (bat) | 106/8 (20 ov) 🇿🇦 | 110/2 (16.4 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 8 wickets | SA tour of IND 2022 | Arshdeep Singh (IND) |
| 5th T20I | Bengaluru | June 19, 2022 | SA (bat) | 28/2 (3.3 ov) 🇿🇦 | – | No result | SA tour of IND 2022 | – |
| 4th T20I | Rajkot | June 17, 2022 | SA (bat) | 87/9 (20 ov) 🇿🇦 | 169/6 (20 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 82 runs | SA tour of IND 2022 | Dinesh Karthik (IND) |
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Last 10 ODI Matches
ODIs show SA’s edge 6-4, with 2023 series 2-1 SA
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | South Africa Score | India Score | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd ODI | Paarl | December 21, 2023 | SA (bat) | 218/10 (45.5 ov) 🇿🇦 | 296/8 (50 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 78 runs | IND tour of SA 2023/24 | Arshdeep Singh (IND) |
| 2nd ODI | Gqeberha | December 19, 2023 | IND (bat) | 215/2 (42.3 ov) 🇿🇦 | 211/10 (46.2 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇿🇦 won by 8 wickets | IND tour of SA 2023/24 | Tony de Zorzi (SA) |
| 1st ODI | Johannesburg | December 17, 2023 | SA (bat) | 116/10 (27.3 ov) 🇿🇦 | 117/2 (16.4 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 8 wickets | IND tour of SA 2023/24 | Arshdeep Singh (IND) |
| World Cup | Kolkata | November 5, 2023 | IND (bat) | 83/10 (27.1 ov) 🇿🇦 | 326/5 (50 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 243 runs | ICC Men’s Cricket WC 2023 | Virat Kohli (IND) |
| 3rd ODI | Lucknow | October 11, 2022 | IND (bat) | 105/3 (19.1 ov) 🇿🇦 | 99/10 (19.3 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇿🇦 won by 7 wickets | SA tour of IND 2022 | Heinrich Klaasen (SA) |
| 2nd ODI | Ranchi | October 9, 2022 | SA (bat) | 278/7 (50 ov) 🇿🇦 | 282/3 (45.5 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 7 wickets | SA tour of IND 2022 | Shreyas Iyer (IND) |
| 1st ODI | Lucknow | October 6, 2022 | SA (bat) | 249/4 (40 ov) 🇿🇦 | 240/8 (40 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇿🇦 won by 9 runs | SA tour of IND 2022 | Heinrich Klaasen (SA) |
| 5th ODI | Delhi | March 13, 2019 | SA (bat) | 251/10 (45 ov) 🇿🇦 | 252/4 (40.1 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 6 wickets | SA tour of IND 2019 | Rohit Sharma (IND) |
| 4th ODI | Chandigarh | March 10, 2019 | IND (bat) | 358/9 (50 ov) 🇿🇦 | 359/6 (47.5 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇿🇦 won by 4 wickets | SA tour of IND 2019 | Quinton de Kock (SA) |
| 3rd ODI | Nagpur | March 6, 2019 | SA (bat) | 193/10 (38.5 ov) 🇿🇦 | 197/2 (36.5 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 8 wickets | SA tour of IND 2019 | Virat Kohli (IND) |
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Last 10 Test Matches
Tests IND lead 6-4, 2023/24 draw 1-1.
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | South Africa Score | India Score | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Test | Cape Town | January 3, 2024 | SA (bat) | 55/10 (23.2 ov) & 176/10 (36.5 ov) 🇿🇦 | 153/10 (34.5 ov) & 80/3 (12 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 7 wickets | IND tour of SA 2023/24 | Dean Elgar (SA) |
| 1st Test | Centurion | December 26, 2023 | SA (bat) | 408/10 (108.4 ov) & 116/2 (26.3 ov) 🇿🇦 | 245/10 (67.4 ov) & 131/10 (34.1 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇿🇦 won by inn & 32 runs | IND tour of SA 2023/24 | Dean Elgar (SA) |
| 2nd Test | Johannesburg | January 3, 2022 | SA (bat) | 229/10 (79.4 ov) & 243/3 (67.4 ov) 🇿🇦 | 202/10 (63.1 ov) & 266/10 (60.1 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇿🇦 won by 7 wickets | IND tour of SA 2021/22 | Dean Elgar (SA) |
| 3rd Test | Cape Town | January 11, 2022 | SA (bat) | 210/10 (66.5 ov) & 212/3 (63.3 ov) 🇿🇦 | 223/10 (67.3 ov) & 198/10 (67.3 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇿🇦 won by 7 wickets | IND tour of SA 2021/22 | Keegan Petersen (SA) |
| 1st Test | Centurion | December 26, 2021 | IND (bat) | 197/10 (62.3 ov) & 174/10 (50.3 ov) 🇿🇦 | 327/10 (105.3 ov) & 94/4 (20.5 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 113 runs | IND tour of SA 2021/22 | KL Rahul (IND) |
| 3rd Test | Ranchi | October 19, 2019 | SA (bat) | 162/10 (56.2 ov) & 133/10 (48 ov) 🇿🇦 | 497/9d (116.3 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by inn & 202 runs | SA tour of IND 2019/20 | Rohit Sharma (IND) |
| 2nd Test | Pune | October 10, 2019 | SA (bat) | 275/10 (105.4 ov) & 189/10 (67.2 ov) 🇿🇦 | 601/5d (156.3 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by inn & 137 runs | SA tour of IND 2019/20 | Virat Kohli (IND) |
| 1st Test | Visakhapatnam | October 2, 2019 | IND (bat) | 502/7d (136 ov) & 323/4d (67 ov) 🇿🇦 | 431/10 (131.2 ov) & 191/10 (63.5 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇮🇳 won by 203 runs | SA tour of IND 2019/20 | Rohit Sharma (IND) |
| 2nd Test | Cape Town | January 5, 2018 | SA (bat) | 286/10 (73.1 ov) & 130/10 (41.2 ov) 🇿🇦 | 307/10 (92.4 ov) & 151/10 (50.2 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇿🇦 won by 72 runs | IND tour of SA 2017/18 | Lungi Ngidi (SA) |
| 1st Test | Centurion | January 13, 2018 | SA (bat) | 335/10 (113.5 ov) & 258/10 (91.3 ov) 🇿🇦 | 307/10 (92.1 ov) & 151/10 (50.5 ov) 🇮🇳 | 🇿🇦 won by 135 runs | IND tour of SA 2017/18 | Vernon Philander (SA) |
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Rivalry Summary
SA vs IND is fiercely competitive, IND leading Tests 21-15, ODIs 54-37, T20Is 16-11. IND’s home invincibility vs SA’s pace in SA. Stats: Highest Test IND 601/5d (2019); lowest SA 55 (2024). CT 2025 India winners, Jaiswal 214*, Klaasen high scores. Rivalry’s essence in player duels like Bumrah vs de Kock, fostering innovation
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Conclusion
The SA vs IND players rivalry captures cricket’s spirit, with icons like Kohli vs Rabada defining eras. IND’s 2024 T20 successes contrast SA’s ODI resilience, with emerging like Jaiswal (CT 214*) and Stubbs promising more. 2025 trends like DRS tech elevate it. Significance in global fandom. Share favorite player feat—like Bumrah’s WC spell—in comments! Check live scores on Cricbuzz app.
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FAQ
Why is South Africa vs India a top cricket rivalry?
Pace-spin clashes, with players like Rabada vs Kohli, and dramas like 2024 WC final make it iconic.
How to read a cricket scorecard?
Details totals (e.g., 283/1), overs, player stats for insights.
What are key stats in SA vs IND head-to-head?
IND leads Tests 21-15, ODIs 54-37, T20Is 16-11; highest chase SA 359/6 (2019).
Who are standout players in recent SA vs IND matches?
Sanju Samson (IND) T20 tons; Tristan Stubbs (SA) chases.
How did 2025 trends impact the rivalry?
CT aggression; Jaiswal’s 214* boosted IND.
What was the most dramatic recent match?
2024 T20 WC final, IND’s 7-run win.
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