South Africa
India create several milestones in record performance against South Africa. The Johannesburg skies were lit up by sixes as the India batters powered their way to a massive total of 283/1 from 20 overs.
In the final T20I of India’s tour of South Africa, India took the field knowing they couldn’t lose the four-game series having taken a 2-1 lead, while South Africa aimed to level the contest.
After winning the toss, India opted to bat first, aiming to pressure the Proteas with a daunting target to chase.
The opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma gave the side just the right start, carrying their stellar form into this game, amassing 73 runs in the powerplay before Abhishek Sharma edged one to Heinrich Klaasen.
Riding high on his maiden T20I century from the last game, Tilak Verma came in all guns blazing, further accelerating the tempo, which was already overwhelming for the South African bowlers.
Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma unleashed an onslaught of fours and sixes, with both batters storming into triple figures.
Tilak Varma’s 120 of 47 balls saw him become the second Indian after Sanju Samson, and the fifth player overall to score consecutive centuries in T20I cricket.
Sanju Samson’s 109 of 56 balls marked his third century in the last five T20Is he has played.
The total of 283 is the highest of all T20s in South Africa. Centuries from Tilak and Samson meant that India became just the third international side after the Czech Republic and Japan to have two batters score hundreds in an innings.
With 23 sixes in their innings, India registered the third-highest number of sixes in a T20I innings, and the most in a T20I between two Full Member sides.
The partnership of 210* between Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma is the highest for any wicket for India in T20Is. With this total, along with their 297 against Bangladesh a couple of months ago, India now occupies the top two spots for the highest totals in a T20I between two Full Member sides.
India’s highest partnerships (In T20Is)
Batter 1 | Batter 2 | Partnership runs | Opponent | Year |
Sanju Samson | Tilak Varma | 210* | South Africa | 2024 |
Rohit Sharma | Rinku Singh | 190* | Afghanistan | 2024 |
Deepak Hooda | Sanju Samson | 176 | Ireland | 2022 |
Sanju Samson | Suryakumar Yadav | 173 | Bangladesh | 2024 |
Rohit Sharma | KL Rahul | 165 | Sri Lanka | 2017 |
In pursuit, South Africa slipped to 10/4 early in their innings as Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya made early inroads. Tristan Stubbs and David Miller fought back briefly but India’s bowlers kept bringing in the breakthroughs as the asking rate mounted. The visitors eventually took the game, and secured the series 3-1.
Tilak Varma was the Player of the Match as well as the Player of the Series for his efforts. This 135-run victory was India’s biggest-ever win over South Africa.