5 memorable ODIs wins by Team India against Proteas in South Africa

Having squandered yet another opportunity to win a Test series in South Africa, Team India will now shift their focus to the ODIs. The three-match ODI series will begin with the first game at Boland Park in Paarl on January 19. India will be led by KL Rahul in Rohit Sharma’s absence, while Jasprit Bumrah has been named vice-captain for the series.

Team India have played a total of 34 ODIs in South Africa, winning 10 and losing 22. The other two games produced no results. The Indians, however, had a memorable ODI series in the Rainbow Nation during their previous visit in 2017-18. The Virat Kohli-led outfit won the six-match series by a 5-1 margin.

If we look at the overall ODI record between the two teams, India and South Africa have faced each other 84 times, with the former winning 35 games and the Proteas 46. Three of the ODIs produced no results.

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Team India’s impressive ODI triumphs in South Africa

In the build-up to the limited overs leg of the tour, we recap five of India’s most memorable one-day wins against the Proteas in South Africa.

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#5 Centurion (1992)

Former India opener WV Raman. Pic: Getty Images

WV Raman scored a famous hundred as India defeated South Africa by four wickets in the third ODI of a seven-match series in Centurion in December 1992. India were set 215 to win the match and opener Raman guided the chase, scoring a defiant 114 off 148 balls. It was a class knock, coming against a bowling attack comprising Allan Donald, Fanie de Villiers, Craig Matthews and Brian McMillan.

Raman and Ajay Jadeja (20) featured in a 56-run opening stand. India lost the former in the 47th over after which Ravi Shastri (27* off 16) took India home with five balls to spare. For India, Anil Kumble starred with 2 for 29 while there were a couple of run outs as well. Andrew Hudson hit 87 for South Africa, but the knock went in vain.

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#4 Durban (2018)

Virat Kohli during the 2018 series. Pic: Getty Images

Kohli led from the front with a sublime 112 as India won the opening ODI of a six-match series in South Africa in February 2018 in Durban. The visitors were set to chase a challenging 270 to take a 1-0 lead. India lost Rohit for 20 and Shikhar Dhawan for 35. However, Kohli was in prime form and slapped 10 fours en route to his 119-ball 112. The captain and Ajinkya Rahane (79) featured in a magnificent 189-run stand for the third wicket as India eased home by six wickets in 45.3 overs.

For South Africa, skipper Fad du Plessis also led from the front, smacking a wonderful 120 off 112 balls. Chris Morris (37) and Andile Phehlukwayo (27*) made useful contributions towards the end. However, Kuldeep Yadav’s 3 for 34 ensured that the Proteas were restricted to 269 for 8. Kohli and Rahane did the rest.

#3 Cape Town (2011)

Former India all-rounder Yusuf Pathan. Pic: Getty Images

The Indians registered a close two-wicket win over South Africa in the third match of a five-game series in Cape Town in January 2011. Chasing 221, the visitors lost half of their side for 93, with Rohit Sharma, Kohli, ,MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh all back in the hut. However, Yusuf Pathan (59) and Suresh Raina (37) featured in a 75-run stand for the sixth-wicket to rescue India. Harbhajan Singh also chipped in an unbeaten 23 as India got home with 10 balls to spare.

On the bowling front, Zaheer Khan picked up 3 for 43, while Munaf Patel and Harbhajan claimed two wickets each. Yousuf Pathan, meanwhile, chipped in with the big wicket of AB de Villiers (16). Faf du Plessis (60) and Jean-Paul Duminy (52) played useful knocks for the Proteas. However, the lower order stumbled as South Africa went from 200 for 4 to 220 all out.

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#2 Centurion (2001)

Harbhajan Singh celebrates a wicket. Pic: Getty Images

India registered another brilliant victory over South Africa in Centurion in the third ODI of a triangular series in October 2001. It was a clinical all-round show against a quality South African outfit. India batted first and put up a decent 233. Rahul Dravid top-scored with 54 while useful contributions came from Yuvraj Singh (42), Sachin Tendulkar (38) and Virender Sehwag (33). The bowlers then played their part as the Proteas were cleaned up for 192 in 46.2 overs as India registered a 41-run win.

Harbhajan Singh was the standout bowler for India with figures of 3 for 27. He dismissed Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock and Nicky Boje. Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble and Virender Sehwag chipped in with two wickets apiece as the Proteas were on the backfoot right through the chase. Lance Klusener (44) and Mark Boucher (38) helped South Africa recover from 85 for 5, but they never threatened to pull off the chase.

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#1 Johannesburg (2011)

Munaf Patel bowled a brilliant spell during the 2011 Johannesburg ODI. Pic: Getty Images

Munaf Patel (4/29) bowled India to an unbelievable win in the second ODI of a five-match series in January 2011. India managed only 190 batting first. In response, the Proteas were cruising at 152 for 4 in the 33rd over when Graeme Smith was bowled for 77 by Patel. The pacer returned at the death to dismiss Morne Morkel (6) and Wayne Parnell (12) as India pulled off a sensational win. From 160 for 5, the hosts collapsed to 189.

India’s total of 190 was build around Yuvraj’s 53 and skipper MS Dhoni’s 38. However, the lower order could not contribute much. The visitors themselves crumbled from a comfortable 150 for 3 as Lonwabo Tsotsobe was excellent with 4 for 22. Patel’s brilliance, however, turned the match on its head as the Proteas choked once again.