South Africa vs India Test Cricket Head-to-Head & Stats
The article provides an in-depth look at the Test cricket rivalry between South Africa and India, which began in 1991. While South Africa often dominates at home with their fast-paced attack, India's spin-friendly surfaces have allowed them consistent victories on home soil. Their head-to-head stats are closely tied, with South Africa slightly ahead in overall wins, yet India shows dominance in home victories. Legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar and Dale Steyn have marked the series with extraordinary performances, cementing this rivalry as one of international cricket's most thrilling.
- Their first Test was played in November 1992; South Africa has dominated the head-to-head count between the two nations.
- India’s first Test win over South Africa came in their fifth match, with South Africa having won one of the previous four matches to secure the first series at home 1-0; South Africa won nine of their first 19 Tests against India, with six draws and four wins for India.
- India have twice beaten South Africa 3-0 in home Test series (2015/16 and 2019/20).
Jacques Kallis pushes a single to leg against India (Getty Images).
South Africa vs India Test Cricket Head-to-Head & Stats
South Africa’s first international cricket match against India took place after the Proteas were reintroduced to world cricket in 1991. India were South Africa’s first opponents in international cricket in 1991, playing a three-match one-day international series ahead of the 1992 World Cup. India won the one-day series 2-1, but South Africa beat them in their group match in the World Cup.
South Africa played their first Test against India in the 1992/93 season. The 1st Test took place at Kingsmead in Durban and ended in a draw after the fourth day was lost due to rain, South Africa going on to take the four-match series 1-0 after a nine-wicket win at Gqeberha.
South Africa have picked up three Test wins in a row against India twice (2000/01 and 2022/23). India have twice won back-to-back Tests against South Africa, but their best spell saw them win five Tests in a row from 2018 to 2021, with two wins of an innings and 100-plus runs and two wins of 100-plus runs.
South Africa’s last Test win in India was back in February 2010. Since then India won six of their seven home Tests against South Africa, with one draw in a match that saw four days rained-off.
- South Africa vs India Test Cricket Head-to-Head & Stats
- South Africa vs India Head-to-Head Record
- Latest Results
South Africa vs India Head-to-Head Record
South Africa’s fiery pace attack and strong batting line-up have dominated India on South Africa’s faster pitches, despite India fielding some of the top batters in international cricket.
India’s powerful spin attack on spin-friendly wickets has seen them dominate South Africa in India, winning most of their 11 home Test wins by huge margins. South Africa’s inability to consistently build big innings against the Indian bowling attack has seen them struggle to assert themselves in India.
The leading run-scorer in these Tests is Sachin Tendulkar (1741 runs, ave 42.46), followed by Jacques Kallis (1734 runs, ave 69.36). Both batters scored seven centuries in these Tests. The highest scores in South Africa vs India Tests have been Virender Sehwag (319), Virat Kohli (254*) and Hashim Amla (253*).
Anil Kumble has taken the most wickets (84, ave 31.79), followed by paceman Dale Steyn (65, ave 21.53), with Steyn taking his wickets at an astonishing strike-rate of 41.86. Seven bowlers have taken seven wickets in an innings in these Tests, but the best innings return was Lance Klusener’s incredible 8/64 in 1996.
Ravi Ashwin (12/98 in 2015) and Allan Donald (12 /139 in 1992) have both returned match figures of 12 wickets, while Shaun Pollock, Dale Steyn and Venkatesh Prasad have each completed a 10-wicket match haul.
Mark Boucher is the leading wicketkeeper with 60 dismissals (58 c, 2 st) in 14 Tests, while AB de Villiers has taken the most catches in the outfield (25 in 20 Tests).
| Info | Played | Won by South Africa | Won by India | Drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 44 | 18 | 16 | 10 |
| In South Africa | 25 | 13 | 5 | 7 |
| In India | 19 | 5 | 11 | 3 |
Correct as at 11 November 2025
Latest Results
| Date | Result | Margin | Stadium | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan, 2024 | India won | 7 wickets | Newlands | South Africa |
| Dec, 2023 | South Africa won | inns & 32 runs | SuperSport Park | South Africa |
| Jan, 2022 | South Africa won | 7 wickets | Newlands | South Africa |
| Jan, 2022 | South Africa won | 7 wickets | Wanderers | South Africa |
| Dec, 2021 | India won | 113 runs | SuperSport Park | South Africa |
| Oct, 2019 | India won | inns & 202 runs | JSCA International | India |
| Oct, 2019 | India won | inns & 137 runs | Maharashtra CA Stadium | India |
| Oct, 2019 | India won | 203 runs | ACA-VDCA Stadium | India |
| Jan, 2018 | India won | 63 runs | Wanderers | Johannesburg |
| Jan, 2018 | South Africa won | 135 runs | SuperSport Park | South Africa |
| Jan, 2018 | South Africa won | 72 runs | Newlands | South Africa |
| Dec, 2015 | India won | 337 runs | Arun Jaitley Stadium | India |
| Nov, 2015 | India won | 124 runs | Vidarbha CA Stadium | India |
| Nov, 2015 | Match drawn | - | M.Chinnaswamy Stadium | India |
| Nov, 2015 | India won | 108 runs | I.S. Bindra Punjab CA Stadium | India |
Correct as at 11 November 2025
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