What happened the last time India played South Africa in a completed men's T20I at the Kingsmead Stadium before SA vs IND 2024?
India is set to play South Africa in an away four-match T20I series starting Friday, November 9. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the side which has several young names, some of whom are also touring South Africa for the first time.
After a disappointing and forgettable home Test series against New Zealand, India will be keen to perform well in this series against South Africa although the players and format are different.
The first T20I of this series will be played at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. The last time the Men in Blue played a T20I at the same venue was during their previous tour to South Africa in 2023.
In the first game of the series in December 2023, rain played spoilsport as the match was called off without a ball being bowled. In fact, even the toss could not take place.
However, the last time they played a T20I at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban (in a completed match that produced a result), India emerged victorious. This was way back during the 2007 Men's T20 World Cup.
Batting first, an unbeaten half-century from Rohit Sharma (50*) and a crucial 45 from MS Dhoni propelled the Men in Blue to a competitive total of 153/5.
Defending the total, RP Singh ran through South Africa's top order, pushing them on the back foot early on in the chase. They were reduced to 31/5 and failed to recover from there. The side were eventually restricted to 116/9 as India won the game by 37 runs. RP Singh finished with four wickets while Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh claimed two each as well.
Suryakumar Yadav led India in theT20I series against South Africa in 2023 and as the Men in Blue are back for another T20I series in 2024, it is Suryakumar once again who is set to captain a young Indian team.
The previous series was drawn 1-1 and both teams will be keen to clinch the series as they meet once again in 2024.
India's record at the Kingsmead, Durban in T20Is
The Kingsmead Stadium in Durban has been an iconic venue for the Indian men's cricket team. They have played five T20Is in Durban so far, which has been a successful hunting ground for the visitors as they have four wins.
Out of the four wins, two came during the historic 2007 World Twenty20. India beat England at this very venue during the competition in 2007, in the match where Yuvraj Singh smashed six sixes in an over as well.
Another famous win came in the same tournament at this venue, where they beat arch-rivals Pakistan in the historic bowl-out after the match initially ended in a tie. As the last time India came to this venue for a T20I ended in a washout, they are unbeaten in five T20I matches at Durban.
India enters this tour on the back of a successful home T20I series against Bangladesh in October 2024 where they won 3-0. On the other hand, South Africa last played a T20I series against Ireland in the UAE in September this year. The two-match series was drawn 1-1.
Players from both sides, especially some of the new faces and youngsters in the Indian team, will have an opportunity to prove their worth on the international stage. The Men in Blue will be keen to maintain their record at Durban in the format and take an early lead in the series.