India vs South Africa: What is Team India's record in Rainbow Nation? How does it compare to home Tests?

India vs South Africa: Men in Blue’s stats in Rainbow Nation, compared with those at home

India Test stats in South Africa, comparison with home records

As India prepare for a two-match Test series against South Africa, it comes with a reminder that the Men in Blue have a terrible record in the country. The Proteas have had the upper hand over India in each series that they’ve played in Africa.

India’s record in South Africa reads: 23 matches, 4 wins, 12 defeats and 7 draws. These are spread over nine series and in all but one attempt, South Africa have won.

India first travelled to South Africa in November 1992 under the captaincy of Mohammad Azharuddin and lost 0-1. Then Sachin Tendulkar held the captaincy duties in 1996 and the team lost 0-2. Since then, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli (KL Rahul, too, for one match) have stepped in as captains but never been able to steer the team to a series win.

India’s four Test wins have come in 2006, 2010, 2018 and 2021 under the leadership of Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni and twice with Kohli as skipper.

South Africa have beaten India in all but one series, in 2010-11, which finished 1-1 as a Dhoni captained side came from 0-1 down to level the series courtesy Zaheer Khan’s six-wicket haul and VVS Laxman’s fighting 96 runs in the second innings.

In comparison, India haven’t been as dominant at home against South Africa. India’s record vs South Africa in Tests at home: 19 Matches played, 11 wins, five defeats and three draws.

South Africa played their first Test in India in 1996 in a three-match series. Men in Blue triumphed 2-1 despite being thumped by 329 runs in the second Test at Eden Gardens with Gary Kirsten scoring hundreds in both innings.

However, South Africa clinched the series 2-0 in 2000 with wins by 4-wickets and innings and 71 runs in Mumbai and Bengaluru. Shaun Pollock’s six wicket haul saw off Indi at the Wankhede Stadiumm. Meanwhile Nicky Boje took seven wickets in the second Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium with Jacques Kallis emerging as the Player of the Series.

Ever since, South Africa have not had the pleasure of lifting the trophy in India. They’ve been able to draw the series twice at 1-1, in 2008 and 2010, but not gone on to win it all.

In the most recent series, in 2019, India blanked South Africa 3-0 with wins in Visakhapatnam, Pune and Ranchi as Rohit Sharma took Player of the Series honour for scoring 529 runs.