SK Flashback: Revisiting India's unsuccessful attempts to conquer South Africa

India have arrived in South Africa to play three Tests, six ODIs and three T20Is during a 56-day long tour. They have toured South Africa six times since 1992 and has never won a series there. This tour is shaping up to be Virat Kohli's most challenging assignment as India captain thus far.

India have won every Test series they have played since August 2015. They are currently the number one team in ICC's Test rankings. The visitors are in a position to justify their top spot by breaking their jinx on South African soil.

While the Indian team is preparing for the first test match, which is five days away, let us look back the previous six Indian tours of South Africa.

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#6 1992/93: South Africa won 1-0

India was the first team to tour South Africa following the latter's readmission into cricket. They started the tour on a positive note by restricting the hosts to 254 runs in the first innings and taking a 23-run lead with the help of Pravin Amre's brilliant century. However, rain interruption resulted in the match ending in a draw.

The second match of the series was a close game. Chasing a fourth innings target of 318, India scored 141 for 4 in 82 overs and played out a draw. Sachin Tendulkar stole the limelight by scoring a brilliant hundred in the visitors' first innings. Anil Kumble bowled brilliantly and took six wickets in South Africa's second innings.

In the third Test, India squandered a chance to win the game by choking in the second innings. Allan Donald demolished their lineup with a seven-wicket haul and turned the match in South Africa's favour. Kapil Dev played one of the best innings of his career as he scored 129 runs out of India's 215 in the third innings of the match. South Africa chased the victory target of 155 with ease.

The fourth test ended on a dull draw as both the teams scored at just two runs per over. Javagal Srinath won the man of the match award for 2/51 and 4/33. The general opinion was that India could have pushed for a result in the must-win encounter. It was a closely fought series and South Africa edged out India by a slender 1-0 margin.

#5 1996/97: South Africa won 2-0

Nelson Mandela greets the Indian team during their tour of South Africa in 1996-97

In the first test at Durban, India got bowled out for a paltry 100 and 66 as South Africa cruised to a whopping 328-run victory. Dravid's score of 27 was the highest score in both their innings. South Africa wrapped up this game in just three days. The only solace for India is the performance of Venkatesh Prasad. He took a ten-wicket haul in this one-sided affair.

The second test was no different. South Africa thrashed India by a whopping 282 runs. Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin's first-innings centuries were the only positives for the visitors. The hosts routed them for 144 when they were tasked with chasing an improbable target in the fourth innings.

With the series already gone, India fought for pride in the third test. Dravid scored an inspiring 148 in the first innings. Despite taking a healthy first innings lead, India couldn't wrap up the game. Cullinan scored a gutsy hundred in the fourth innings to save South Africa.

#4 2001: South Africa won 1-0

The 2001 series was India's most controversial tour to South Africa thus far

India toured South Africa in November 2001 to play a 3-match Test series. Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag scored quick-fire hundreds to help their team reach 379 runs. However, the bowlers let India down as South Africa amassed 563 runs in the first innings.

India couldn't recover from South Africa's first innings assault as they got bowled out for 237 runs. The hosts chased the paltry target with much ease. Shaun Pollock razed India with his accurate fast bowling and grabbed a ten-wicket haul. Rightly so, he was adjudged man of the match.

After letting South Africa take 161 runs lead in the second test, India batted resolutely in the fourth innings and played out 96 overs to draw the game. However, the news of greater importance was that Tendulkar was given a match suspension for allegedly tampering the ball during the second Test. Also, the match-referee handed one-match ban for many Indian players for excessive appealing.

The Indian board and the team management threatened to withdraw their team from South Africa. They demanded to sack Mike Denness for his false accusations against the Indian team. In the end, both the cricket boards sacked Denness. Since the ICC did not concur with boards' decisions, the third Test was declared unofficial. South Africa beat India by an innings and 73 runs in that match.

#3 2006/07: South Africa win 2-1

Sreesanth ripped through the Proteas to help India to win their first Test in South Africa

Under Rahul Dravid's captaincy, India created history by winning a Test match in South Africa for the first time. Having won the toss in the first test, they chose to bat and scored a respectable 249 runs on a tricky pitch.

Sreesanth wrecked the South African batting line up with his accurate seam bowling. He picked up 5/40 to raze the hosts for 84. The Proteas couldn't recover from then on. They lost the match by 123 runs. Sreesanth won the Man of the Match award for his spectacular spell in the first innings.

South Africa came back strong in the second test. After posting a solid 328 runs in the first innings, South Africa dismissed India for just 240 runs. A quick-fire batting from the South African team set India a daunting target of 354 in the last innings. Makhaya Ntini demolished Indian top order as they bowled out for a paltry score of 179.

With the scoreline at 1-1, India looked at the possibility of winning the 1st series at South Africa. After winning the toss, India posted a formidable score of 414. They even bowled out South Africa for 373 taking a 40-run lead. However, India imploded in the third innings of the match. They got bowled out for 169 runs and South Africa reached the target of 211 with much ease to claim the series.

#2 2010/11: Series drawn 1-1

India's best series so far in South Africa came in 2010/11

India started the tour on a disastrous note as they got bowled out for a trifling 136 runs in the first innings. Then, South Africa amassed 620 runs by losing just four wickets. Despite a fight back in the second innings, courtesy Tendulkar's 50th Test century, India lost the game by an innings and 25 runs.

After getting dismissed for just 205 runs, India fought back in the 2nd test to dismiss South Africa for just 131 runs. With the help of Laxman's gritty 96, they posted a target of 303 runs to South Africa. An all-round bowling display helped the visitors dismiss the Proteas for 215 runs.This was India's second Test victory in South Africa.

India and South Africa headed into the 3rd test with a scoreline of 1 -1. However, India batted sensibly and took a two-run lead with the help of Tendulkar's 51st hundred. The maestro's knock put South Africa on the back foot as they couldn't push for a win. India drew their first ever series in South Africa.

#1 2013: South Africa won 1-0

India missed a golden opportunity in Johannesburg

The tussle between CSA and BCCI resulted in BCCI reducing the number of tests to just two. India started the first test on a positive note as they scored 280 runs with the help of Kohli's hundred. Indian fast bowlers bowled out South Africa for 240 runs thus taking a healthy 40-run lead.

India's second innings was even more eventful. They scored 421 runs with the help of Pujara's 150 and Kohli's 96. Chasing a victory target of 458 runs, South Africa came agonizingly close to the record target. South Africa was at 450 for 7 when umpires ended the game.

Much like the first test, India started the second test positively. India scored 330 runs in the 1st innings. However, South African lower order batsmen took the South African score to 500 runs. India stuttered in the third innings of the game giving South Africa a comfortable 10-wicket win. How many times will India stumble in the 3rd innings in South Africa?

India could have won both the games had they not imploded at the key moments of each game. While the bowlers disappointed in the 4th innings of the 1st test, the batsman failed in the 3rd innings of the 2nd test. They lost the series 1-0 and their wait for a series victory in South Africa was extended further.