by Cricket rivalries need deeper analysis than just counting wins. Context matters as much as results.
India versus South Africa creates electric contests. Every match brings drama. Every series produces memorable moments.
The India vs South Africa head-to-head records in test, ODI, & t20i contain layers of information. Surface numbers hide important trends underneath.
Both nations produce incredible talent. Both teams play attacking cricket. Both squads refuse to give up easily.
Format evolution changed this rivalry completely. T20 cricket didn’t exist in the 1990s. ODI cricket followed different rules back then.
Players make rivalries special. Legends from both sides created history. New stars continue building legacies.
Home versus away splits tell crucial stories. Fortress venues produce one-sided results. Neutral grounds level the playing field.
Recent form sometimes contradicts overall records. Current teams differ from past squads. Yesterday’s dominance doesn’t guarantee tomorrow’s success.
Series wins matter more than individual matches. Championships carry extra weight. World Cup meetings create lasting memories.
Contents
- 1 India vs South Africa Head-to-Head Records in Test, ODI & T20I
- 1.1 All-Formats Head-to-Head
- 1.2 #1: ODI Cricket (Most Matches Played)
- 1.3 #2: Tests (Biggest Win Gap)
- 1.4 #3: T20I Cricket (India’s Territory)
- 1.5 Latest Test Results (2020-2025)
- 1.6 Top Records Table: Individual Performances
- 1.7 Venue-Based Performance Stats
- 1.8 Overall India vs South Africa Head-to-Head Records Summary
- 1.9 Future Outlook: What Numbers Predict?
- 1.10 Final Rankings Based on Data
India vs South Africa Head-to-Head Records in Test, ODI & T20I
This comprehensive guide uses data-driven rankings. Every claim has statistical backing.
Clear tables make comparisons easy. The analysis reveals which team truly controls each format.
All-Formats Head-to-Head
| Format | Matches | India Wins | SA Wins | Draw/NR | IND Win % | SA Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 46 | 16 | 20 | 10 | 34.8% | 43.5% |
| ODIs | 97 | 42 | 52 | 3 | 43.3% | 53.6% |
| T20Is | 33 | 19 | 13 | 1 | 57.6% | 39.4% |
| Total | 176 | 77 | 85 | 14 | 43.8% | 48.3% |
Key Finding: South Africa leads overall by 4.5 percentage points.
#1: ODI Cricket (Most Matches Played)
ODI Head-to-Head Stats
| Category | India | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 97 | 97 |
| Wins | 42 | 52 |
| Win Percentage | 43.3% | 53.6% |
| Home Wins | 28 | 12 |
| Away Wins | 14 | 12 |
| Neutral Wins | 0 | 11 |
| No Results | 3 | 3 |
Why ODI Has Most Matches
- 97 matches make ODI the most-played format
- Started in 1992, a regular series every 2-3 years
- World Cup meetings add extra contests
- Bilateral tours always include 3-5 ODI matches
The Win Gap Analysis
South Africa’s 10-Win Lead:
- Built over 30+ years of cricket
- Stronger performance in the 1990s and 2000s
- Better chase records overall
- Won 11 neutral venue matches (World Cups, Champions Trophy)
India’s Home Dominance:
- 28 home wins vs SA’s 12 away wins
- 66% home win rate for India
- Best home run: Won 7 out of last 10 in India
- The recent 2025 series win (2-1) shows current strength
Highest Team Totals in ODIs
| Rank | Team | Score | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 438/4 | Johannesburg | 2015 |
| 2 | India | 401/3 | Indore | 2022 |
| 3 | South Africa | 411/4 | Kolkata | 2015 |
| 4 | India | 358 | Raipur | 2025 |
| 5 | South Africa | 343/2 | Paarl | 2023 |
ODI Verdict: South Africa leads 52-42. Most competitive format.
#2: Tests (Biggest Win Gap)
Test Match Head-to-Head Stats
| Category | India | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 46 | 46 |
| Wins | 16 | 20 |
| Win Percentage | 34.8% | 43.5% |
| Home Wins | 13 | 5 |
| Away Wins | 3 | 17 |
| Draws | 10 | 10 |
Why Test Shows Biggest Win Gap
The Away Record Difference:
- South Africa: 17 away wins
- India: 3 away wins
- Gap of 14 wins decides Test leadership
Numbers That Explain Everything:
- SA won 77% of their Tests in India (17 out of 22)
- India won only 13% of their Tests in SA (3 out of 23)
- Home teams usually dominate in cricket
- But SA breaks this rule against India
Test Win Percentage by Decade
| Period | India Win % | SA Win % |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0% | 66.7% |
| 2000s | 30% | 50% |
| 2010s | 50% | 33.3% |
| 2020s | 25% | 62.5% |
India improved in the 2010s, but SA bounced back in the 2020s.
Home vs Away Impact Table
| Venue Type | India Record | SA Record |
|---|---|---|
| India Home | 13-5 (72% win) | 5-13 (28% win) |
| SA Home | 3-17 (15% win) | 17-3 (85% win) |
| Neutral | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Test Verdict: South Africa’s away strength creates an 8.7 percentage point gap.
#3: T20I Cricket (India’s Territory)
T20I Head-to-Head Stats
| Category | India | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 33 | 33 |
| Wins | 19 | 13 |
| Win Percentage | 57.6% | 39.4% |
| No Results | 1 | 1 |
| Highest Score | 283/1 | 227/3 |
| Lowest Score | 90/8 | 87 |
Why India Dominates T20Is
Win Percentage Gap: 18.2 Points
- The largest format gap in this rivalry
- India wins nearly 6 out of 10 matches
- SA wins less than 4 out of 10 matches
Recent Form (Last 10 T20Is):
- India: 7 wins
- South Africa: 3 wins
- Momentum is clearly with India
T20I Scoring Power Comparison
| Category | India | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 200+ Scores | 8 times | 3 times |
| Average Score | 168 | 152 |
| 150+ Chases | 6 successful | 4 successful |
| Powerplay Average | 52 | 46 |
India scores bigger and chases better.
T20I Player Performance Stats
| Top Run-Scorers | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Miller (SA) | 524 | 37.4 | 145.6 |
| Rohit Sharma (IND) | 429 | 35.8 | 139.2 |
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 394 | 43.8 | 135.1 |
| Top Wicket-Takers | Wickets | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh (IND) | 18 | 15.2 | 7.8 |
| Keshav Maharaj (SA) | 15 | 22.1 | 7.2 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar (IND) | 14 | 18.6 | 6.9 |
T20I Verdict: India leads 19-13. Strongest format control.
Latest Test Results (2020-2025)
| Match | Winner | Margin | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 408 runs | Guwahati | Nov 2025 |
| 2 | South Africa | 30 runs | Kolkata | Nov 2025 |
| 3 | India | 7 wickets | Cape Town | Jan 2024 |
| 4 | South Africa | Innings & 32 runs | Centurion | Dec 2023 |
| 5 | South Africa | 7 wickets | Cape Town | Jan 2022 |
| 6 | South Africa | 7 wickets | Johannesburg | Jan 2022 |
| 7 | India | 113 runs | Centurion | Dec 2021 |
| 8 | India | Innings & 202 runs | Ranchi | Oct 2019 |
| 9 | India | Innings & 137 runs | Pune | Oct 2019 |
| 10 | India | 203 runs | Visakhapatnam | Oct 2019 |
Last 10 Tests: South Africa 6, India 4
Biggest Recent Win: SA by 408 runs (2025)
Latest ODI Results Table (2022-2025)
| Match | Winner | Margin | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 9 wickets | Visakhapatnam | Dec 2025 |
| 2 | South Africa | 4 wickets | Raipur | Dec 2025 |
| 3 | India | 17 runs | Ranchi | Nov 2025 |
| 4 | India | 78 runs | Paarl | Dec 2023 |
| 5 | South Africa | 8 wickets | Gqeberha | Dec 2023 |
| 6 | India | 8 wickets | Johannesburg | Dec 2023 |
| 7 | India | 243 runs | Kolkata | Nov 2023 |
| 8 | India | 7 wickets | Delhi | Oct 2022 |
| 9 | India | 7 wickets | Ranchi | Oct 2022 |
| 10 | South Africa | 9 runs | Lucknow | Oct 2022 |
Last 10 ODIs: India 7, South Africa 3
Latest Series: India won 2-1 (2025)
Top Records Table: Individual Performances
Most Runs Across Formats
| Rank | Player | Format | Runs | Average | 100s/50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | ODI | 2,001 | 55.6 | 5/12 |
| 2 | Sachin Tendulkar | Test | 1,741 | 46.0 | 6/5 |
| 3 | Jacques Kallis | Test | 1,734 | 55.9 | 4/11 |
| 4 | Jacques Kallis | ODI | 1,535 | 45.1 | 3/10 |
| 5 | Hashim Amla | Test | 1,528 | 50.9 | 5/7 |
| 6 | Virat Kohli | ODI | 1,504 | 57.8 | 5/7 |
Highest Individual Scores
| Format | Player | Score | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | Dean Elgar (SA) | 185 | Johannesburg | 2018 |
| Test | Virat Kohli (IND) | 153 | Centurion | 2018 |
| ODI | Rohit Sharma (IND) | 150* | Bangalore | 2022 |
| ODI | Quinton de Kock (SA) | 174 | Paarl | 2022 |
| T20I | Tilak Varma (IND) | 120* | Centurion | 2024 |
| T20I | Sanju Samson (IND) | 109* | Durban | 2024 |
Most Wickets Across Formats
| Rank | Player | Format | Wickets | Average | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zaheer Khan | Test | 46 | 26.1 | 5/48 |
| 2 | Dale Steyn | Test | 44 | 26.5 | 7/51 |
| 3 | Jasprit Bumrah | Test | 29 | 21.8 | 6/33 |
| 4 | Morne Morkel | Test | 25 | 28.4 | 4/39 |
| 5 | Yuzvendra Chahal | ODI | 22 | 31.4 | 5/22 |
| 6 | Kagiso Rabada | ODI | 21 | 28.9 | 4/39 |
Best Bowling Figures
| Format | Player | Figures | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | Dale Steyn (SA) | 7/51 | Nagpur | 2010 |
| Test | Jasprit Bumrah (IND) | 6/33 | Cape Town | 2022 |
| ODI | Imran Tahir (SA) | 7/45 | Dhaka | 2011 |
| ODI | Yuzvendra Chahal (IND) | 5/22 | Centurion | 2018 |
| T20I | Deepak Chahar (IND) | 3/27 | Bangalore | 2019 |
Venue-Based Performance Stats
Where India Performs Best?
| Venue | Matches | India Wins | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangalore | 8 | 6 | 75% |
| Kolkata | 7 | 5 | 71% |
| Delhi | 6 | 4 | 67% |
| Mumbai | 5 | 3 | 60% |
Where South Africa Performs Best?
| Venue | Matches | SA Wins | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg | 12 | 9 | 75% |
| Cape Town | 11 | 8 | 73% |
| Centurion | 10 | 7 | 70% |
| Durban | 8 | 5 | 63% |
Finding: Both teams win 70%+ matches at their home strongholds.
Overall India vs South Africa Head-to-Head Records Summary
Championship Standings
| Position | Team | Total Wins | Win % | Formats Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 85 | 48.3% | Tests, ODIs |
| 2 | India | 77 | 43.8% | T20Is |
Format-Wise Leaders
Test Cricket:
- Leader: South Africa (20-16)
- Gap: 4 wins
- Key Factor: Away performance
ODI Cricket:
- Leader: South Africa (52-42)
- Gap: 10 wins
- Key Factor: Consistent excellence
T20I Cricket:
- Leader: India (19-13)
- Gap: 6 wins
- Key Factor: Batting firepower
Future Outlook: What Numbers Predict?
Current Series Impact
Upcoming T20I Series (5 matches):
If India wins 3-2:
- Overall gap reduces to 85-82
- Win percentage: 48.3% vs 46.6%
- Closest rivalry gets tighter
If South Africa wins 4-1:
- Overall gap extends to 89-78
- Win percentage: 50.6% vs 44.3%
- SA strengthens lead
Next 5 Years Projection
Test Cricket:
- 2 more series expected (6-8 matches)
- WTC commitments ensure regular Tests
- Away challenges continue for India
ODI Cricket:
- 3-4 bilateral series (15-20 matches)
- 2027 World Cup meeting possible
- India needs away wins to close gap
T20I Cricket:
- 4-5 series (20-25 matches)
- India likely to extend lead
- T20 World Cups add importance
Key Numbers to Watch
For India:
- Away Test wins (currently 3, need 10+ to compete)
- ODI win % (need 50%+ to match SA)
- T20I dominance (maintain 55%+ win rate)
For South Africa:
- Home ODI record (improve from 12 wins)
- T20I batting depth (reduce scoring gap)
- Test consistency (maintain away excellence)
Final Rankings Based on Data
All-Time Championship
- South Africa: 85 wins (48.3%)
- Stronger in Tests and ODIs
- Better away record overall
- Consistent across decades
- India: 77 wins (43.8%)
- Dominant in T20Is
- Excellent home fortress
- Recent form improving
Gap Analysis
- Total matches: 176
- Win difference: 8 matches
- Percentage gap: 4.5 points
- Closest major cricket rivalry
The Bottom Line:
The India vs South Africa Head-to-Head Records show near-equal competition.
South Africa leads today, but India keeps closing gaps. Every format tells different stories.
Every series shifts numbers. This rivalry remains unpredictable, and data-driven rankings prove why fans love these contests.
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