India vs South Africa: Biggest controversies and top moments from past series

With the India-Australia T20I a thing of the past now, the focus shifts towards Team India’s full-fledged tour of South Africa that starts from 10 December. India will play three T20Is, as many ODIs and two Tests in South Africa. The visitors will have three different captains for the upcoming series. While Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Men in Blue in the T20Is, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma will be captaining India in the ODI and Test series respectively.

It’s also important to note that India have never won a Test series in South Africa, which means it will be the perfect opportunity for Rohit and Co to tick that off from the bucket list.

Also read: Mohammed Shami played through injury during World Cup, ankle issue still remain a concern

Matches between India and South Africa have produced some iconic moments and have had their fair share of controversies as well. We now take a look at some of them here:

1992: Kepler Wessels’ historic century

India had toured South Africa for the first-ever time back in 1992, when they played a Test series and an ODI series. India ended up losing both the series, but for South Africa, it was a worthwhile celebration, having won the ODI series 5-2 and Test series 1-0.

The then Proteas skipper Kepler Wessels had a series to remember, not just because he finished as the top run-getter in both Test as well as the ODI series, but for a very unique feat. When Wessels hit a century during the first Test in Durban, he became the first batter to score centuries for two countries. Before playing for his native South Africa following their return to international cricket in 1992, Wessels had played for Australia, for whom he made his international debut in 1982.

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1996-97: Venkatesh Prasad’s five-fers in Durban Test

It was yet another forgettable tour to South Africa for India in 1996, but there were a few silver linings. One of them, was Venkatesh Prasad’s five-fer in the Boxing Day Test in Durban.

Prasad would go onto scalp five wicket hauls in both innings of the Test. While he finished with figures of 5/60 in the first innings, Prasad registered figures of 5/93 in the second innings.

However, what led India in that Test was their batting unit. Replying to South Africa’s first innings total of 235, India would get bundled out for 100 with Sourav Ganguly (16) top scoring. South Africa would then go onto put up 259 on board in their second innings, and India, looking to chase a target of 395, ended up succumbing to pressure and collapsing for 66.

2000: Hansie Cronje match fixing controversy

The India-South Africa rivalry witnessed one of it’s most darkest days in 2000, when the then Proteas captain Hansie Cronje was charged of match fixing by Delhi Police. In April 2000, Cronje was accused of fixing the ODI matches against India, with the police also releasing transcripts of a conversation between Cronje Sanjay Chawla, a businessman who was reported to be a bookie.

Cronje had at first denied the fixing allegations but confessed to taking $10,000  to $15,000 for providing information and forecast, but not match fixing.

“I want to make it 100% clear that I deny ever receiving any sum of money during the one-day international series in India. I want to also make it absolutely clear I have never spoken to any member of the team about throwing a game.

“If you check my cash, bank accounts, that I think is the only thing that’s going to clear me because, as I said, you know, I’ve not received any money," Cronje had said during a press conference later.

On 11 April 2000, South Africa sacked Cronje as skipper, and as an outcome of this controversy, Cronje was banned from international cricket for lifetime.

2001: Sachin Tendulkar involved in ball tampering

During the second India-South Africa Test in Port Elizabeth, one infamous incident  overshadowed the entire series. Sachin Tendulkar was charged for ball tampering by match referee Mike Denness. However, Tendulkar was not the only one found guilty. Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag were also handed suspensions for the same. While Ganguly was banned for a Test and two ODIs, Sehwag was given suspension for one Test

2010: Sachin Tendulkar double century

Sachin Tendulkar made history during an ODI against South Africa in Gwalior, become the first ever batter to score a double century in ODIs. Tendulkar would go onto amass an unbeaten 200, slamming 25 fours and three sixes en  route to his milestone in 147 balls. That would help India post 401/3, with the bowlers in reply helping South Africa bundle out for 248.

2013: Johannesburg Test

The Johannesburg Test in 2013 would go down as one of the greatest Tests ever played between India and South Africa. India had won the toss and opted to bat first, with Virat Kohli’s century guiding them to 280 in the first innings. In South Africa’s reply, the hosts would only manage 244 despite fifties from skipper Graeme Smith and Vernon Philander, and by Day 3 of the Test, India would find themselves at 284/2 in the second innings, following a century from Pujara. India would go  onto post 421, setting up a target of 458 for South Africa.

Day five of the Test saw pendulum swing both ways. South Africa were 236/4 at one stage, and Du Plessis and De Villiers would go onto score fifties, sgaring a double century stand. However, as fate would have it, the Proteas would soon lose momentum with the fall of both wickets, and even an unbeaten 25 from Vernon Philander was not enough for South Africa to win the match, with the Proteas finishing at 450/7.