5 best bowling figures by Indian bowlers against South Africa in T20I cricket

Two Indian bowlers have taken a five-wicket haul against South Africa in T20I cricket.

India and South Africa have produced some thrilling contests in the past in the shortest format. Whether they are playing in India, South Africa, or at a neutral venue, their clashes have always been exciting.

There have been many standout bowling performances registered when India and South Africa have faced each other in T20Is. Indian bowlers have helped their side take the upper hand in the head-to-head record over the Proteas.

In this article, we will look at the five best bowling figures by Indian bowlers against South Africa in T20I cricket.

Top five bowling figures by Indian bowlers against South Africa in T20I cricket:

5. Avesh Khan – 4/18, Rajkot, 2022

Indian pacer Avesh Khan has played a handful of T20Is so far in his career, and his best bowling figures until now came against South Africa in Rajkot in June 2022. This was the fourth game of the five-match T20I series.

Batting first, India posted a score of 169/6. South Africa had chased down 212 earlier in the series and were confident of making another successful run chase.

But Avesh bowled a brilliant spell of 4/18. He took three wickets in one over as India restricted South Africa to only 87 runs and won the match by 82 runs.

4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 4/13, Cuttack, 2022

In the home series in 2022, during the second T20I in Cuttack, Bhuvneshwar Kumar registered the joint-best economical spell against South Africa in T20Is by an Indian bowler. Unfortunately, it came in a losing cause.

India managed 148/6 while batting first. Bhuvneshwar gave South Africa early blows and took 4/13 in his four overs. Once his spell was done, however, Heinrich Klaasen (81 off 46) hammered the rest of the Indian bowlers and took South Africa home.

3. RP Singh – 4/13, Durban, 2007

RP Singh’s role in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup triumph is underrated as he was superb with the ball throughout the tournament. His best bowling figures during the competition came in a must-win clash against South Africa in Durban.

India posted 153/5 while batting first. South Africa had a target of 154 but needed 126 runs to qualify for the next round based on NRR.

However, RP Singh produced a sensational spell of 4/13 as India registered a 37-run win to make it to the semis. That spell from the left-arm seamer kicked South Africa out of the competition.

2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 5/24, Johannesburg, 2018

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the first Indian pacer and second Indian bowler to take a five-wicket haul in T20I cricket. He has two fifers to his name, the first one coming against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2018.

Batting first, India posted a big total of 203/5 with Shikhar Dhawan scoring a 39-ball 72. In reply, Reeza Hendricks (70 off 50) gave South Africa a good start but Bhuvneshwar pulled things back with his 5/24 in four overs.

South Africa were 154/4, and Bhuvneshwar took three wickets in one over. India won the game by 28 runs.

1. Kuldeep Yadav – 5/17, Johannesburg, 2023

Kuldeep Yadav has registered the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler against South Africa in T20I cricket. Kuldeep returned with excellent figures of 5/17 in a T20I in Johannesburg on India’s 2023 tour of South Africa.

Suryakumar Yadav’s century helped India to 201/7. Kuldeep came to bowl in the tenth over of South Africa’s innings and took 5/17 in just 2.5 overs to wrap up the game. South Africa were bowled out for 95 runs, and India won by 106 runs.

(All stats are updated till 6th November 2024.)

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