Not surprisingly, the home side have largely held sway, though South Africa have enjoyed some success. Here is a look back at the previous six series.
South Africa in India ODI Series, 1991/92
The very first fixtures South Africa played on their return to international cricket in 1991, following isolation, were a three-match ODI tour to India. The visitors were raw at this level and lost the first two games, but cruised to victory by eight wickets in the third, giving them their first taste of international success. Allan Donald took 5–29 in the opener as South Africa lost by three wickets, while Kepler Wessels’ 71 was not enough in the second as they went down by 38 runs. India posted a massive 287–4 in the third game, but South Africa chased it down thanks to knocks from Wessels (90), Peter Kirsten (86 not out) and Adrian Kuiper (63 not out).
South Africa in India ODI Series, 1999/00
South Africa did not return for a bilateral ODI series until 2000, when India defeated them 3–2 in a five-match series. Gary Kirsten (115) and Herschelle Gibbs (111) put on 235 for the first wicket in the opening game as South Africa posted 301–3 in 50 overs, but still lost. Sourav Ganguly’s unbeaten 105 took India to victory in the second match, though South Africa hit back to win the third thanks to Kirsten’s 93. Sachin Tendulkar’s brilliant 122 gave India the fourth game and the series, but South Africa claimed the fifth thanks to Lance Klusener’s brilliance with both bat (75 not out off 58 balls) and ball (3–59). This was the series from which the match-fixing allegations against South Africa captain Hansie Cronje later emerged.
South Africa in India ODI Series, 2005/06
South Africa managed to draw this four-game series 2–2, winning the first and third matches—both while chasing. In fact, the side batting second won all four fixtures. Yuvraj Singh scored 103 in the opener, but Jacques Kallis’ unbeaten 68, supported by others, gave South Africa the win. In the third game Shaun Pollock (3–25) and Andrew Hall (3–36) restricted India to 188, and South Africa romped to a 10-wicket victory thanks to Graeme Smith’s unbeaten 134 and Hall’s 48.
South Africa in India ODI Series, 2009/10
This three-match series ended 2–1 to India, with South Africa losing the first two games. On this occasion, the team batting first won all three. India took the opener by one run after South Africa failed to get 10 off the last over. Sachin Tendulkar scored a magnificent 200 not out in the second match—the first ODI double-century. AB de Villiers responded with an unbeaten 114, but South Africa lost by 153 runs. Kallis (104 not out) and De Villiers (102 not out) then guided the tourists to a 90-run consolation win in the third game.
South Africa in India ODI Series, 2015/16
South Africa’s only previous series win in India came in October 2015 when they edged the hosts 3–2. An unbeaten 104 from De Villiers set up victory in the first game despite Rohit Sharma’s superb 150, before India levelled in the second through MS Dhoni’s 92 not out. South Africa regained the lead in the third as Quinton de Kock struck 103 and Morne Morkel took 4–39. India again drew level with Virat Kohli’s 138 rendering De Villiers’ 112 in vain. That set up a decider, and South Africa posted a mammoth 438 thanks to De Kock (109), Faf du Plessis (133) and De Villiers (119), winning by 214 runs. It remains the highest total ever scored against India in an ODI.
South Africa in India ODI Series, 2022/23
South Africa’s last bilateral series in India was in October 2022, and they lost 2–1 despite winning the first match. Heinrich Klaasen (74 not out) and David Miller (75 not out) helped them post 249–4 in a rain-shortened 40-over match to win by nine runs. Shreyas Iyer’s excellent 113 not out saw India take the second game by seven wickets, and the hosts also won the third after bowling South Africa out for just 99, with spinner Kuldeep Yadav taking 4–18.