India’s dominant performance in the 4th T20I against South Africa in Johannesburg on November 15, 2024, was one for the record books. Here are seven major stats and milestones that highlight the sheer brilliance of India’s cricketing prowess in this high-scoring encounter.
1. Sanju Samson Becomes First Player to Score Three T20I Centuries in a Calendar Year
Sanju Samson made history in 2024 by becoming the first player ever to score three centuries in T20I cricket in a single calendar year. His recent knock of 109* added to earlier centuries of 111 and 107. Samson’s last five innings in T20Is read: 111, 107, 0, 0, and 109*, showcasing a remarkable consistency in the shortest format.
2. Tilak Varma Joins Elite List with Successive T20I Tons
Tilak Varma’s blistering century against South Africa was his second consecutive T20I ton, making him only the fifth player to achieve this feat in T20I history. He joined the ranks of players like Gustav Mckeon (France), Rilee Rossouw, Phil Salt, and Sanju Samson. Remarkably, Varma became the second player to score successive tons against the same opposition, following Phil Salt’s achievement against the West Indies last year.
3. Samson and Varma Create a Record Partnership of 210 Runs
The 210-run partnership between Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma is the highest-ever for any wicket for India in T20 Internationals. Their partnership also holds the record for the highest against South Africa in T20Is. With a blistering run rate of 14.82, this partnership is the second-highest for a 150+ stand in T20Is against a Full Member nation, trailing only a 173-run stand between Samson and Suryakumar Yadav against Bangladesh last month.
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4. India Posts Massive Total of 283/1, 5th Highest in T20I History
India’s total of 283/1 is the fifth-highest team total in T20I history. This total is also the second-highest against a Full Member team, after India’s own 297/6 against Bangladesh in October 2024. Additionally, the 283-run total is the highest T20I total ever recorded on South African soil, surpassing the previous record of 271/3 set by the Titans in 2022.
5. India Smashes 23 Sixes, a New Record Against Full Members
India’s fireworks were not limited to just high scores; they also broke the record for the most sixes by a team in a T20I innings against a Full Member side. India hit a total of 23 sixes, surpassing the previous record of 22 sixes held by Afghanistan against Ireland (2019), West Indies against South Africa (2023), and India itself against Bangladesh in Hyderabad last month.
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6. India’s 135-Run Victory Sets a Record for South Africa’s Biggest T20I Loss
India’s 135-run victory over South Africa marked their biggest-ever T20I win over the Proteas by runs. This eclipsed their previous largest margin of victory against South Africa, which came last year in Durban (106 runs). It is also the biggest-ever defeat for South Africa by runs in T20Is, surpassing their previous heaviest loss of 111 runs to Australia in 2023.
7. Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy Set New Records for India
Arshdeep Singh continued his stellar form with 36 wickets in 2024, making him the second-highest wicket-taker in a calendar year for India in T20Is, just behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar (37 wickets in 2022). Among Full Member nations, only Joshua Little (39 wickets in 2022) has taken more wickets in a calendar year.
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Varun Chakravarthy set the record for the most wickets by an Indian bowler in a bilateral series of four or fewer matches, claiming 12 wickets in the series. This is also the most wickets taken by any bowler in a T20I series against South Africa, regardless of series length.
India’s sensational performance against South Africa in Johannesburg showcased their T20I dominance, with multiple records shattered across batting, partnerships, and bowling. With Samson and Varma leading the charge and the team setting new benchmarks, this match will go down as one of the most memorable in T20I cricket history.
