NEW DELHI: Team India, under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, delivered an exceptional batting performance against South Africa in the fourth and final T20I at the Wanderers, Johannesburg on Friday.
The remarkable innings by Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma helped India achieve a substantial total of 283/1 in their allocated 20 overs.
Samson scored 109 whilst Tilak contributed 120, propelling India beyond 280 runs. The team accumulated 23 sixes during their innings, securing the joint third-highest number of sixes in a T20I innings.
Zimbabwe hold the record with 27 sixes against Gambia in October 2024, whilst Samson hit 9 sixes and Varma struck 10.
The pair established a 210-run partnership for the second wicket in 93 balls, marking the sixth-highest partnership for any wicket in T20Is and the highest for the second wicket.
India reached 200 runs in 14.1 overs, registering the third-fastest 200 in T20I history.
This total stands as India’s second-highest in T20Is, following their 297 against Bangladesh earlier in 2024. Samson achieved his third T20I century of 2024, becoming the first player to score three T20I centuries in a calendar year.
Varma secured his second T20I century, joining an elite group including Samson, Gustav Mckeon, Rilee Rossouw, and Phil Salt as the fifth player to score consecutive T20I centuries.
This match marked the first instance where two batsmen from full member nations scored centuries in the same T20I innings.
India surpassed the previous highest T20I total against South Africa, exceeding West Indies’ 258/3 at Centurion in 2023.
Samson finished with 109 from 56 deliveries, whilst Varma remained unbeaten on 120 from 47 balls.
Abhishek Sharma contributed 36 from 18 balls after India chose to bat first.
Arshdeep Singh claimed three wickets as India secured a 135-run victory, winning the series 3-1.
Key records broken:
– 23 sixes in an innings (amongst top 10 teams)
– First instance of dual centuries in same innings (Full member nations)
– Highest second-wicket partnership in T20Is: 210*
– Highest innings total in South Africa: 283
– India’s quickest to 200 runs: 14.1 overs
