5 most memorable Tests between India and South Africa

Every year, Test cricket gives us a marquee series leaving fans, pundits and critics hooked and longing for more. 2017 gave us India vs Australia which despite needless on-field verbal altercations, produced some combative cricket.

Named as the ‘Freedom Trophy’ in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, 2018 gives us India vs South Africa, a series between the No.1 and No.2 ranked sides in the world. While it promises to be a riveting contest, the series serves as a litmus test for India, who are vying for their first ever series win in the rainbow nation.

The two nations have been involved in many memorable Test matches over the course of last 25 years, ever since South Africa came back into cricket post-apartheid era, 1991.

Here’s a look at the top five memorable Test matches played between India and South Africa.

#5 South Africa vs India, Johannesburg 1996

Having already lost the series 0-2 and with serious questions surrounding their batting which had capitulated to 66 all out at Durban, India headed to Johannesburg to restore lost pride.

Batting first, it was Rahul Dravid who came to the fore with a sublime 148 and propelled India to a first innings score of 410 in the company of Sourav Ganguly (73). In response, South Africa was bowled out for 321.

Javagal Srinath (5/104) helped India gain a first-innings lead for the first time in the series. The lead of 89 was further enhanced by yet another fine batting display by the Indians. Rahul Dravid (81) and Sourav Ganguly (60) were once again the stars for the tourists as their partnership helped India set the target of 355.

When Kumble dismissed Richardson with South Africa reeling at 95/7, an Indian win looked imminent. But a 127-run partnership between Daryll Cullinan (122*) and Lance Klusener (49) defied India. Klusener was finally dismissed and with just two wickets left, India's hopes of gaining a solitary win were dented with bad light bringing a premature end to the day's play.

India 410 ( Rahul Dravid 148, Lance Klusener 3/77) & 266/8d ( Rahul Dravid 81, Alan Donald 3/38) drew with South Africa 321 (Shaun Pollock 79, Javagal Srinath 5/104) & 228/8 ( Daryll Cullinan 122*, Anil Kumble 3/40).

#4 South Africa vs India, Johannesburg 2006

It took 15 years and 3 winless tours for India to finally register their first win on South African soil. The Rahul Dravid-led team defeated South Africa by 123 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

The match marked the comeback of former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, who played a crucial innings of 51, pushing India's total to 249. Then, Sreesanth (5/40) bowled one of the best spells ever by an Indian bowler overseas to knock over South Africa for 84. India, with the help of VVS Laxman (73) could only manage 236 in the second innings leaving South Africa 401 runs to win.

A valiant effort by Ashwell Prince (97) in the second innings was not enough as South Africa capitulated against the duo of Zaheer and Sreesanth who claimed three wickets each to hand India one of their most famous win overseas.

India 249 (Sourav Ganguly 51, Shaun Pollock 4/39) & 236 (VVS Laxman 73, Pollock 3/33) beat South Africa 84 (Ashwell Prince 24, Sreesanth 5/40) & 278 (Ashwell Prince 97, Anil Kumble 3/54) by 123 runs.

#3 India vs South Africa, Kolkata 2010

MS Dhoni did well

After Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn led the South Africans to a famous victory at Nagpur, India was staring down the barrel at the packed Eden Gardens with South Africa comfortably placed at 218/2 at Tea. Hashim Amla (114) stood like a monk ably supported by Alviro Pieterson (100) until a typical South African collapse engineered by the duo of Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh reduced them to 296 all out.

India replied brilliantly with Virender Sehwag (165), Sachin Tendulkar (106) , VVS Laxman (143) and captain MS Dhoni (132) amassing hundreds. India declared at 643/6, leaving the Proteas four sessions to bat out a draw and claim the series. A defiant Hashim Amla stood firm between India and victory with a brilliantly paced 123*.

Amla exuded stubborn resistance against a rampaging Harbhajan Singh (5/59) on a fifth day turner showing tremendous courage and grit. The final session had its ebbs and flows with India finally coming out on top in the closing moments of the day. The 'monk' Hashim Amla was given a standing ovation by the crowd, showing the greatness of the knock.

India 643/6d (Virender Sehwag 165 M. Morkel 2/115) beat South Africa 296 (Hasim Amla 114, Zaheer Khan 4/90) & 290 (Hashim Amla 123*, Harbhajan Singh 5/59) by an innings and 57 runs.

#2 South Africa Vs India, Port Elizabeth,2001

After losing the first Test at Bloemfontein, India quickly found themselves in trouble when they were bowled out for 201 in response to South Africa's first innings total of 362. But, not in terms of results, this match is more remembered for the massive controversy it created that had threatened to shake World cricket. It all started when match referee Mike Denness found six Indian players guilty of various offences.

Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Shiv Sunder Das and Deep Dasgupta were all handed a one Test ban for excessive appealing while Sourav Ganguly, India's Captain was reprimanded for a Test and two ODIs for failing to control the behavior of the team. The biggest shock came when the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar was accused of ball-tampering charges, sparking a massive outrage back home where protestors took to the street and burnt effigies of Denness.

Ravi Shastri became the public face of the protests when he took a jibe at Denness in the press conference.

If Mike Denness cannot answer questions, why is he here? We know what he looks like.

~ Ravi Shastri

The BCCI threatened to call off its tour of South Africa unless Denness was replaced for the third test match.

Cricket South Africa sided with the BCCI and Denness, who had embarrassed himself by not being able to explain his actions was not even allowed to enter the stadium.

Consequently, Deep Dasgupta(63) and Rahul Dravid (87) batted out the final day to salvage a draw and the following test match was declared a Non-official game.

South Africa 362 ( Hershelle Gibbs 196, Javagal Srinath 6/76) & 233/5d ( Jacques Kallis 89, Javagal Srinath 2/28) drew with India 201(VVS Laxman 89, Shaun Pollock 5/40) & 3/206 (Rahul Dravid 87, M.Hayward 2/58)

#1 South Africa Vs India, Johannesburg 2013

It was the first Test match that India was playing in the post-Tendulkar era. Amidst all the euphoria and emotions around Sachin Tendulkar's farewell, India was up against a rampaging Dale Steyn on a green Wanderers pitch.

Virat Kohli in his first innings at No.4 did not let India miss Tendulkar much with a dominant 119 on the first day pushing India's total to 280. Zaheer and Ishant led the charge for India South Africa's first innings taking four a piece limiting South Africa to 244 all out.

In the second Innings, Pujara (153) and Kohli (96) helped India set South Africa an improbable 458 runs to win. When Jacques Kallis got out with South Africa precariously placed at 4/197, an Indian win looked imminent.

However, Faf du Plessis(134) and AB de Villiers' (105) marathon partnership of 205 helped regroup South Africa. India began to panic, and MS Dhoni in his 50th Test match as India's captain ran out of options.

With de Villiers chopping on to Ishant and a visibly exhausted du Plessis run out, 16 runs adrift of the target and Morne Morkel not available to bat Steyn and Philander decided to shut shop and played out a draw much to the boos from the crowd. It was a tame end to what was one the most gut-wrenching game in recent times.

India 280 (Virat Kohli 119, Vernon Philander 4/61) & 421 (Cheteshwar Pujara 153, Vernon Philander 3/68) drew with South Africa 244 (Graeme Smith 59, Zaheer Khan 4/88) & 450/7 ( Faf du Plessis 135, Mohammed Shami 3/107).