Top 5 highest wicket-takers for India against South Africa in T20I cricket

India and South Africa met for the first time in T20I cricket in 2006.

India and South Africa are two of the biggest teams in world cricket. Over the years the India vs South Africa rivalry has produced some of the most nail-biting contests in the T20I format.

The final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which saw the Indian team defeat South Africa by a narrow margin, added another layer to this intriguing rivalry.

Picking up regular wickets in the T20I format holds immense value as it slows down the run rate of the batting team. Indian bowlers have played a crucial role in India’s success against the Proteas in T20I cricket.

In this article, we will take a look at the top five highest wicket-takers for India against South Africa in T20Is.

Top five highest wicket-takers for India against South Africa in T20I cricket:

5. Harshal Patel – 9 wickets

Known for his slower ball variations in the death overs, Harshal Patel has picked up nine wickets against South Africa in his T20I career.

Playing eight games against the Proteas, Harshal has picked his nine scalps at an average of 23 and maintained an economy rate of 8.6. Patel’s best performance against South Africa came in Visakhapatnam in 2022 when he picked up 4/25.

4. Hardik Pandya – 9 wickets

Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has picked up nine wickets against South Africa in T20Is. Hardik also holds the record for picking up the fifth-most wickets for India in T20I cricket.

Hardik’s tally of nine wickets against South Africa has come in 10 innings at a decent average of 28. Hardik bowled the final over of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against South Africa and successfully defended 16 runs to help secure India’s victory.

3. Arshdeep Singh – 10 wickets

25-year-old Indian left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has earned his name among the best pacers in T20 cricket right now. Known for his excellent bowling in the death overs, Arshdeep has picked up 10 wickets against South Africa in T20Is.

Arshdeep was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, claiming 17 wickets throughout the tournament, which included two wickets in the final against South Africa.

2. Ravichandran Ashwin – 11 wickets

One of India’s greatest-ever spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin was a highly successful bowler against South Africa in T20Is. Ashwin picked up 11 wickets against the Proteas at an excellent bowling average of 25.

One of the most remarkable dismissals of Ashwin’s career came against South Africa when he bowled Hashim Amla around his leg during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2014.

1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 14 wickets

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was a mainstay of India’s bowling lineup for a long period of time in the 2010s. Bhuvneshwar picked up the most wickets for India against South Africa in T20I cricket. Known for his swing bowling with the new ball, Bhuvneshwar snared 14 wickets against South Africa at an economy rate of just 6.

Bhuvneshwar’s second-best T20I bowling figures came against South Africa when he picked up five wickets for 24 runs in the first T20I of the three-match series in 2018. Kumar last played for India in a T20I in 2022.

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

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