In the lead-up to the forthcoming Women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup, scheduled for later this year in Bangladesh, India will face South Africa across formats on home soil, with the official announcement expected soon.
The tussle of equals, India versus South Africa, returns for the first time since 2021 for a bilateral. India previously hosted South Africa for 3 T20 Internationals (T20Is) and 5 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) back in early 2021, and once again, India is set to host South Africa in June-July. As reported, the ODI leg of the series will take place in Bangalore, while the T20Is and a one-off Test will be played in Chennai. With an exciting series around the corner, fans now have another shot at sports betting, put their cricket knowledge to the test, and win big.
In head-to-head contests, out of 16 T20Is, India has won 9, lost 5, and a couple ended without a result, while from 28 ODIs, India has won 15, lost 12, and one game was abandoned. The tussle of equals is best highlighted in this statistic that underscores the intense rivalry and competitiveness between the two emerging and evolving teams.
Notably, neither India nor South Africa has got hands on a World Cup title in any senior women’s International Cricket Council (ICC) event. However, India has reached the T20 World Cup semi-finals four times, while South Africa has done so twice. Their best finishes came in the Final of the most recent editions, in 2020 and 2023 respectively, with Australia emerging as champions on both occasions.
With the T20 World Cup set to follow shortly after the bilateral series, this series holds immense importance. Both teams will be keen to fine-tune their skills against top contenders, a status they both hold, and to finalize their squads in conditions similar to those they will encounter in Bangladesh, the slow and spin-friendly subcontinent conditions.
In the 50-over World Cups, South Africa has reached the Semi-Finals three times, achieving this feat consecutively in their last two attempts, in 2022 and 2017, while India has advanced five times, finishing as finalists twice in 2017 and 2005. In their previous five face-offs in this format, India has secured victory only once and will have bitter memories of their most recent ODI encounter, a loss to South Africa in the 2022 World Cup Semi-Final.
Women’s Test matches, once overlooked, are now back on the fixture list. India and South Africa have faced each other in a couple of Tests, in 2002 and 2014. Following their 2014 Test, India played their next Test against England in 2021 and has since played three more, while South Africa ended their hiatus in 2022, facing England, and most recently played Australia earlier this year.
South Africa’s last Test win dates back to 2007, against Netherlands, with their most recent Test resulting in a loss to Australia and a draw in the 2022 England Test. Meanwhile, India secured impressive Test victories against both England and Australia just days apart late last year on home soil. It’ll be hoped that India can continue their dominance in the upcoming Chennai Test.
In white-ball games, South Africa has grappled with consistency, letting momentum slip or peaking late, which has resulted in bittersweet series outcomes. A recent example of this trend is evident in South Africa’s home series against Sri Lanka, where they won the T20I opener but failed to capitalize in the following games, ultimately losing the series 1-2. Similarly, the ODI series ended in a 1-1 draw despite the hosts’ winning start.
Fresh off their T20I series win in Bangladesh, India will take the field against South Africa with a new-look bowling attack. With players like Renuka Singh Thakur, Titas Sadhu, Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishaque, and Asha Shobana in the mix, each capable of single-handedly winning games, the forthcoming series promises intriguing contests, with India starting as favorites on home soil to win across formats.
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