Indian team is all set to tour South Africa for a three-match T20I series, three-match ODI series and two-match Test series, which will be played starting from 10 December 2023 to 7 January 2024. Indian bowlers over the years have been very instrumental in series victories, hence here in this article we will have a look at who has taken most wickets for Team India in each of the bilateral T20I series against South Africa.

1. Only T20I match against South Africa in 2006

India played their first-ever T20I match in Johannesburg in December 2006 where players like Sachin Tendulkar was also seen playing their only T20I game. India defeated South Africa in their first T20I game by a margin of 5 wickets.

Most wickets vs South Africa in 2006:

  • Ajit Agarkar - 2/10 (2.3)
  • Zaheer Khan - 2/15 (4)
  • Sachin Tendulkar - 1/12 (2.3)

2. Only T20I match against South Africa in 2011

India played a T20I match in Durban in January 2011, where they went onto register a 21-run victory with the help of brilliant bowling from players like Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar and Yuvraj Singh.

Most wickets vs South Africa in 2011:

  • Ashish Nehra - 2/22 (4)
  • Yusuf Pathan - 2/22 (3)
  • Praveen Kumar - 1/17 (3)

3. Only T20I against South Africa in 2012

India toured South Africa to play just one T20I game in Johannesburg just before the start of IPL 2012. India unfortunately lost this game by 11 runs by DLS method.

Most wickets vs South Africa in 2012:

  • Suresh Raina - 2/49 (4)
  • Ravichandran Ashwin - 1/33 (4)
  • Irfan Pathan - 1/44 (4)

4. Three-match T20I series against South Africa 2015

Indian team for the first time were seen playing a three-match bilateral T20I series in international cricket but unfortunately, they ended up losing this series badly by 0-2 margin on their home soil.

Most wickets vs South Africa in 2015:

  • Ravichandran Ashwin - 4 (2 inns)
  • Sreenath Aravind - 1 (1 inn)
  • Axar Patel - 1 (2 inns)

5. Three-match T20I series against South Africa in 2018

India's tour of South Africa in 2018 saw them win the three-match series by 2-1 margin with the help of brilliant bowling from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who picked 7 wickets in total which included a five-wicket haul as well.

Most wickets vs South Africa in 2018:

  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar - 7 (3 inns)
  • Jaydev Unadkat - 3 (2 inns)
  • Hardik Pandya - 3 (3 inns)

6. Three-match T20I series against South Africa in 2019

India leveled the three-match T20I series by 1-1 margin under Virat Kohli's leadership. First T20I game of this series in Dharamsala unfortunately got abandoned due to poor weather.

Most wickets vs South Africa in 2019:

  • Deepak Chahar - 2 (2 inns)
  • Hardik Pandya - 2 (2 inns)
  • Ravindra Jadeja - 1 (2 inns)

7. Five-match T20I series against South Africa in 2022

For the first time Rishabh Pant was seen leading the Indian team in T20Is and under his leadership, the team managed to draw the series by 2-2 margin. Bowlers like Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal were seen among wickets in this series.

Most wickets vs South Africa in 2022:

  • Harshal Patel - 7 (4 inns)
  • Yuzvendra Chahal - 6 (4 inns)
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar - 6 (4 inns)

8. Three-match T20I series against South Africa in 2022

India played a three-match T20I series on their home soil against South Africa just before the start of T20 World Cup 2022 and won this series by 2-1 margin.

Most wickets vs South Africa in 2022:

  • Arshdeep Singh - 5 (2 inns)
  • Deepak Chahar - 3 (3 inns)
  • Axar Patel - 2 (3 inns)