Top 5 ODI performances by Indians against South Africa

India and South Africa have been involved in many intense contests in ODI cricket. In 77 ODIs till date, India have triumphed on 29 occasions, South Africa have prevailed in 45 matches while the remaining three matches have ended in draws.

This clearly shows that South Africa hold all the aces in the ODI format. With India all set to play South Africa in a 6-match ODI series starting 1st February 2018, here is a look at the five top performances of Indian players against South Africa:

#5 Shikhar Dhawan (137), Melbourne 2015

The 2011 World Cup champions, India, started the 2015 World Cup in an emphatic manner by thrashing arch-rivals Pakistan in the first league match. The action shifted to Melbourne and, batting first, India scored 307 runs in their 50 overs in front of the capacity Melbourne crowd.

The total of 307 was possible due to Shikhar Dhawan's innings of 137 runs off 146 balls which included 16 boundaries and two sixes. Dhawan batted until the 43rd over and played all the South African bowlers with ease.

India bowled South Africa out for just 177 and won the contest by a margin of 130 runs. Dhawan was adjudged the Man of the Match for his brilliant match-winning innings.

#4 Virender Sehwag (58) and 3/25, Colombo 2002

Virender Sehwag led India to a win with his all round performance

In the first semi-final of the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy, India won the toss and elected to bat against South Africa, scoring 261 runs in their allotted 50 overs. Virender Sehwag blasted 59 runs off 58 balls and helped India get off to a breezy start.

Sehwag's innings, which included 10 boundaries, unsettled the South African bowlers and helped India post a challenging target.

South Africa were comfortably placed at 192 for 1 in 37 overs during the run chase when their opener Herschelle Gibbs was forced to retire hurt. They then collapsed from 192 for 1 to 251 for 6 and Sehwag accounted for the dismissals of three South African batsmen.

His victims included the gritty Mark Boucher, the well-settled Jacques Kallis and the very dangerous Lance Klusener. India went on to win the contest by 10 runs and Sehwag was named the Man of the Match for his all-round skills.

#3 Sourav Ganguly (141*), Nairobi 2000

The Indian skipper scored an unbeaten 141 against South Africa in the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy Semi-Finals

In the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy, India battled South Africa in the second semi-finals. The Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly won the toss and elected to bat first and it proved to be the right decision.

Ganguly carried his bat right through the 50 overs and scored an unbeaten 141 runs off 142 balls which included 11 boundaries and six monstrous sixes. Ganguly was harsh on all the South African bowlers and none of them were spared that evening in Nairobi.

Pollock, Donald, Hall and Boje were all taken to the cleaners by the Indian skipper. Riding on Ganguly's innings, India put up a total of 295 runs and then bowled out South Africa for just 200.

Ganguly also accounted for the wicket of the top scorer Mark Boucher, dismissing him off the first ball he bowled. The Indian skipper was named the Man of the Match.

#2 Sunil Joshi (5/6), Nairobi 1999

Sunil Joshi conceded just 6 runs in 10 overs and picked up 5 wickets

One of the most remarkable spells bowled by an Indian spinner in recent times was that of Sunil Joshi against the mighty South Africans at Nairobi in 1999. South Africa, after winning the toss and choosing to bat, were bowled out for a paltry score of 117 largely due to the spell by left-handed spinner Sunil Joshi. He bowled 10 overs, out of which six were maidens. Joshi conceded just six runs and picked up five wickets.

His victims included Dippenaar, Gibbs, Cronje, Rhodes and Pollock. India went on to chase the target easily with 8 wickets in hand and 27 overs to spare. Joshi was adjudged the Man of the Match.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar (200*), Gwalior 2010

Sachin Tendulkar scored the first ever double century in an ODI against South Africa

Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman in the history of ODI cricket to score a double century. He achieved this feat against South Africa in 2010 at Gwalior. Batting first, India scored 401 runs and Sachin scored almost 50% of the runs and carried his bat at the end.

Sachin's unbeaten 200 came off just 147 balls and included 25 boundaries and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 136.05.

India went on to beat South Africa by 153 runs and Sachin was named the Man of the Match.