IND vs SA head-to-head record in Test cricket

When it comes to the India and South Africa teams in Test cricket, it is safe to say that it is a story of intense famous competition, where every victory is hard-won. Let’s take a look at the IND vs SA head-to-head record in Test cricket, which reveals all the details of this famous battle.

Overall statistics: almost parity

In the entire history of meetings, the two teams have played 44 Test matches against each other. There’s no clear dominance here. South Africa has a slight edge, winning 18 matches. India is right behind them with 16 wins. As many as 10 matches ended in a draw. This isn’t a rout, but a hard-fought battle on every serve. Could there be anything more exciting than such a balance?

Home and away meetings breakdown

And here’s where things become even more interesting. As often happens in cricket, home conditions matter a lot. In India, Men in Blue are becoming true leaders. Of the 19 Test matches played on Indian pitches, the home team has won 11. South Africans managed to win only 5 times, and 3 matches did not reveal a winner.

But as soon as the teams switch places, the situation changes dramatically. On their fields the Proteas won 13 of their 44 home matches. While India won only five away matches. This difference in away success largely explains South Africa’s slight advantage in the overall standings.

IND vs SA head-to-head record in Test cricket: who had the upper hand

Looking at the history of recent years, a clear trend of alternating victories is evident. It’s difficult to identify a clear leader in the last decade.

• 2015/16: India showed their strength on home pitches with a clean 3-0 win.
• 2017/18: The home-leader scenario repeated itself: South Africa won 2-1.
• 2019/20: A complete triumph for India at home. The result was a resounding 3-0 in their favor.
• 2021/22: The hosts emerged victorious in this series. South Africa won the home series 2-1.
• 2023/24: The series in South Africa ended 1-1. India won the second Test decisively, by 7 wickets.

It turns out that the outcome of a series often depends on where it takes place. Predicting the winner in advance is no easy task.

History of the Freedom Trophy

A more detailed history of their rivalry, especially since the inception of the Freedom Trophy in 2015, confirms this competitive dynamic. India held the trophy after the 2015/16 and 2019/20 series. South Africa responded in kind in 2017/18 and 2021/22. The latest series, 2023/24, ended in a draw again, leaving everyone waiting for the next chapter.

So who dominates? There’s no clear answer. India is a fortress on home fields. South Africa is a thunderstorm on its own. The result is one of the most exciting and unpredictable rivalries, which explains the intense interest in the IND vs SA head-to-head record in Test cricket.