Like the many memorable ODI matches between these two great cricketing nations, There have been test matches between India vs South Africa and they have enthralled the crowd and they are memorable test matches.
Over the decades, be it in India or South Africa, the test matches between these two nations are always must see and both of them bring out the best in the other one. So, let’s take a look at some of the memorable Test Matches between India and South Africa.
2nd Test 1996, Kolkata
This test match may not be one of the favorites for the Indian fans but for South Africa cricket it was a huge moment in the history of their game. Post the Apartheid, this was the first test match win for the Proteas on Indian soil and they won it in some style . While batting first the South Africa team posted a very commendable score of 428 runs with the majority of the contributions coming from the openers Gary Kirsten and Andrew Hudson ,both of whom hit centuries and then they restricted India to 329 in their first innings, then while batting second Gary Kirsten and Daryl Cullinan hit massive hundreds and set India a massive target of 466 but Lance Kluesner had other plans as he took 8 wickets in the 4th innings and South Africa won the match and made history.
1st Test 2008, Chennai
This test match is also known as the Virender Sehwag test match ,where he showed why he is the best opener in test cricket in the last 20 years. It was a flat deck in Chennai and South Africa posted 540 runs in the first innings but in the Indian innings it was the Virender Sehwag show as he started blasting the South Africa bowlers all around the ground and at a strike of more than 100 scored his 2nd triple hundred and gave the fans a moment to remember forever.
Also Read | Best Innings of Virender Sehwag
4th Test 2015, Delhi
This test match will be remembered for the heroic Fourth innings effort by South Africa to try and save the test match in extremely difficult conditions in Delhi. While batting first India made 334 runs thanks to a wonderful century from Ajinkya Rahane ,then they dismissed South Africa cheaply for just 121 runs and finally in the 4th innings South showed lots of skill and determination and especially Hashim Amla and AB De Villiers who batted 250 and 300 balls each to get and draw the text but after batting for a mammoth 143 overs , India won the match but the match is still remembered for the never say die attitude South Africa showed in the 4th innings.
3rd Test 2018, Johannesburg
Not mentioning this test match in the most memorable test matches between these two nations would not be fair. The pitch for this match was very dangerous and the bounce was terrifying but still they played a competitive match. The first innings totals of both teams were not good but that was to be expected as it was a Bowler’s pitch , Jasprit Bumrah took a 5 wicket haul in the South Africa innings and announced his arrival to the world stage. In the 2nd innings India batted better and Ajinkya Rahane scored a brilliant 48 and in the 4th innings it was the time of Mohammad Shami to shine as he took a 5 wicket haul and won India a famous match at Johannesburg by 63 runs.
2nd Test 2010, Durban
This was a famous win by the Indian team against the best ever South Africa test match at their own turf. India could only manage 205 runs in the first innings but they dismissed South Africa for a mere 131 runs in the 1st innings with Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh being the pick of the bowlers. In the 2nd innings VVS Laxman stood up for his nation and made a majestic 96 runs in difficult conditions and in the 4th innings Zabeer Khan again and Sreesanth helped India register a famous win against South Africa at Durban.
