NEW DELHI: With the ODI series wrapped up 2-1 in India's favour, the spotlight now shifts to the T20I leg of South Africa's ongoing tour. The hosts sealed the series in style on Saturday in Visakhapatnam, clinching the decider with a commanding performance.
Chasing a target of 271, India cruised home in just 39.5 overs, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal's brilliant maiden ODI century and explosive contributions from Rohit Sharma (75 off 73) and Virat Kohli (65 not out off 45). Their aggressive batting display made light work of the chase and set the tone heading into the T20Is.
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India avoided the embarrassment of back-to-back home series defeats after South Africa had stunned them with a 2-0 whitewash in the Test series. The visitors carried that momentum into the ODIs as well, nearly pulling off consecutive heists - falling just 17 runs short in a 350 chase in the first match before successfully hunting down 359 in the second.
South Africa looked poised to land another heavy blow, but India finally found their rhythm. With both batters and bowlers stepping up in unison when it mattered most, the hosts produced a complete performance to seal the series and steady the ship.
A deadlocked duel in the shortest format
Unlike India's supremacy over the Proteas in home ODIs - winning four of the six series - their T20I rivalry has been far more balanced, with neither side able to assert clear dominance.
Across four T20I series hosted by India, both teams have managed to win once each, while the remaining two ended in hard-fought draws. The results underline how evenly matched the sides have been in the shortest format, regardless of conditions or team combinations.
In their first T20I series on Indian soil in 2015–16, South Africa stamped their authority with a 2-0 win in the three-match contest. The following three-match series in 2019–20 ended in a stalemate, with both teams winning one game each.
The five-match series in 2022 also finished level at 2-2 before India finally broke the pattern later that year, clinching a three-match series 2-1.
South Africa have traditionally travelled well in white-ball cricket, often surprising India with their adaptability and fearless approach. India, on the other hand, have relied on their depth, strong batting core, and familiarity with home conditions to stay competitive. From high-scoring thrillers to rain-affected cliffhangers, the contests have consistently delivered drama and quality cricket.
