India's sensational year in T20 internationals reached a fitting climax on November 15, 2024, as they delivered a breathtaking display of power-hitting and tactical brilliance to thrash South Africa by 135 runs in the fourth and final T20I at Johannesburg’s iconic Wanderers Stadium. This victory, coupled with India’s dominant performance throughout the series, handed them a 3-1 series win over the Proteas, marking their fourth T20I series triumph on South African soil. India’s total of 283 runs, a staggering display of batting prowess, shattered records and set a new benchmark for T20I cricket.
The star of the show was India’s aggressive batting duo, Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson, who created history by becoming the first pair of batters from a Test-playing nation to score centuries in the same T20I match. Their partnership of 210 runs came off just 86 balls, propelling India to the highest total ever by a team in an overseas T20I match. Their innings were a masterclass in modern T20 batting, as they showcased a range of attacking strokes and fearless play against a South African attack that had no answers to their onslaught.
Tilak Varma’s blistering century, which came off just 41 balls, was the third-fastest T20I century by an Indian batter. His aggressive stroke play, particularly against the spinners, left the South African bowlers scrambling for solutions. Samson, who has been in red-hot form in recent T20Is, matched Varma’s intensity with his own fiery century in 51 balls, his third three-figure score in his last five T20I innings. Together, they powered India to a record-breaking total, with 19 of India’s 23 sixes coming off their bats. Tilak's hitting was particularly impressive against South Africa’s spinners, using his entire batting range, including an audacious switch-hit six that was reminiscent of AB de Villiers’ trademark shots.
The carnage began early in the innings, as India showed no signs of slowing down after winning the toss and opting to bat. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson saw off the first over with just four runs, but from the very second over, it was an exhibition of brutal hitting. Tilak Varma’s audacity was evident as he tore into the South African bowlers, and his partnership with Samson was a testament to India’s fearless approach in T20I cricket. The pair’s ability to rotate the strike while also hitting boundaries and sixes at will was key to maintaining the momentum throughout the innings.
In the 14th over, Tilak put Markram under tremendous pressure, hitting the off-spinner for two sixes and two boundaries in quick succession, amassing 26 runs in five deliveries. This flurry of runs came in the middle overs when South Africa was hoping to stage a comeback, but the Indian batters were in no mood to relent, continuously finding the boundaries with ease. By the time the partnership ended, South Africa was left wondering where it had all gone wrong.
The South African bowlers were left chasing shadows as Varma and Samson bludgeoned them into submission. The Proteas had no answer to India’s powerful batting display, and the performance was symbolic of how India has embraced an aggressive, fearless mindset in T20I cricket in 2024. This philosophy, instilled under the leadership of former captain Rohit Sharma and continued by Suryakumar Yadav, has reshaped the way India approaches the shortest format. India’s victory in this series was not only a testament to their batting prowess but also a clear indication of how far they have come in the T20 format.
This fearless batting approach also led to India’s triumph in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup held in the USA and the West Indies earlier that year, where they showcased a similar level of intensity, dominating the opposition with a blend of tactical discipline and aggressive stroke play. By defeating South Africa in South Africa for the fourth time in their history, India proved their versatility and their ability to adapt to different conditions, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Indian T20 cricket.
Reflecting on the series win, India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav shared his thoughts on the magnitude of the achievement. “Winning any ICC tournament gives a huge boost, but winning here in South Africa is extra special. South Africa is always a challenging place to tour, and to come here and win this series is a massive achievement. This will stay with me forever,” he said. Suryakumar’s leadership, which was characterized by positivity and confidence, ensured India maintained their aggressive approach throughout the series, even when the going got tough. Under his stewardship, the team has continued to play with aggression, freedom, and a hunger for victory.
India’s record-breaking victory was also a testament to the strong individual performances across the board. Arshdeep Singh, with his scintillating new-ball spell, played a key role in dismantling the South African batting lineup. With the pitch offering swing, Arshdeep was in his element, picking up three early wickets and putting South Africa on the back foot. His ability to swing the ball both ways was crucial in reducing the hosts to 10 for 4 in the third over. Arshdeep's consistency and ability to deliver in crunch moments have made him one of India’s most promising young pacers, and his performances in this series, including his contributions with the death overs, were crucial to India’s series win.
Hardik Pandya, another key performer, delivered when needed, contributing both with the bat and the ball. His all-round contributions, coupled with Varun Chakravarthy's excellent bowling throughout the series, were instrumental in limiting South Africa’s scoring opportunities. Chakravarthy, who finished with 12 wickets, equaled the world record for the most wickets taken in a bilateral T20I series, cementing his reputation as one of India’s most effective T20 bowlers.
India’s spin trio, including Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel, also had a significant impact, taking 20 wickets across the four matches and exposing South Africa’s vulnerability to spin. Their ability to turn the ball and keep the South African batters guessing was key to India’s dominance in the series. Bishnoi, in particular, has been a revelation in T20 cricket, and his performances will only add to his growing reputation as a world-class spinner.
As the T20I action draws to a close for the year, India’s exceptional performances throughout 2024—culminating in this historic series win—have established them as the undisputed kings of T20 cricket. However, the focus now shifts to Test cricket, with India gearing up for the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where they will face Australia in a five-match series starting on November 22, 2024, in Perth. The transition from the shortest format to the longer format will present a new set of challenges, but with India’s current momentum and confidence, they will be eager to carry their winning mentality into the next chapter of international cricket.
