After a home series victory against Australia by a 4-1 margin, Team India will be touring South Africa for a three-match T20I series under Suryakumar Yadav's leadership. The Indian team have played 8 bilateral T20I series against South Africa in the past years from 2006-2022 and here in this article, we will have a look at who has scored the most runs for India in each of those bilateral T20I series.

1. Only T20I match against South Africa in 2006

India's first-ever T20I match in 2006 was played against South Africa in Johannesburg. Virender Sehwag was captain of the side at that time where legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar was also seen playing his only T20I game.

Dinesh Mongia was the leading run-scorer in that game as he recorded 38 runs in 45 balls, while skipper Virender Sehwag smashed 34 runs off 29 balls and Dinesh Karthik, who scored an unbeaten 31-run knock, won the Player of the Match award.

Most runs in only T20I match against South Africa in 2006:

  • Dinesh Mongia - 38
  • Virender Sehwag - 34
  • Dinesh Karthik - 31

2. Only T20I match against South Africa in 2011

India played a T20I match during their tour to South Africa in 2010/11 in Durban in January and won that game by a margin of 21 runs with the help of a brilliant fifty from Rohit Sharma and a blistering knock from Suresh Raina.

Most runs in only T20I match against South Africa in 2011:

  • Rohit Sharma - 53
  • Suresh Raina - 41
  • Virat Kohli - 28 

3. Only T20I match against South Africa in 2012

South African side played only one T20I game on 30th March in Johannesburg, just before the start of IPL 2012, which was about to be played in five days (4th April). India lost this match by 11 runs (DLS method) in a shortened 8-over game unfortunately.

Most runs in only T20I match against South Africa in 2012:

  • Gautam Gambhir - 49
  • Robin Uthappa - 18

4. Three-match T20I series against South Africa in 2015

Indian side were seen playing a three-match T20I series for the first time which incidentally happened on their home soil. India lost this series by a 0-2 margin unfortunately under Dhoni's leadership. South Africa were seen chasing 200 runs in the first T20I match in Dharamsala and also bundled out the Indian team for a total of 92 runs in Cuttack.

Most runs in a three-match T20I series against South Africa in 2015:

  • Rohit Sharma - 128 (2 inns)
  • Virat Kohli - 44 (2 inns)
  • Suresh Raina - 36 (2 inns)

5. Three-match T20I series against South Africa in 2018

Indian side went on to win this three-match bilateral T20I series by 2-1 margin under both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's leadership. India's tour to South Africa in 2018 was very successful for them when it comes to limited overs cricket as they were seen winning the ODI series also by a 5-1 margin.

Most runs in the three-match T20I series against South Africa in 2018:

  • Shikhar Dhawan - 143 (3 inns)
  • Manish Pandey - 121 (3 inns)
  • Suresh Raina - 89 (3 inns)

6. Three-match T20I series against South Africa in 2019

India leveled this three-match T20I series by a 1-1 margin despite showing stunning effort and an all-round display in both T20I games. Virat Kohli was seen scoring the most runs for India in this T20I series.

Most runs in the three-match T20I series against South Africa in 2019:

  • Virat Kohli - 81 (2 inns)
  • Shikhar Dhawan - 76 (2 inns)
  • Rishabh Pant - 23 (2 inns)

7. Five-match T20I series against South Africa in 2022:

India leveled the five-match T20I series by a 2-2 margin and maintained their long streak of not losing a three or more-match T20I series on home soil. Rishabh Pant led the Indian side for the first time in international cricket.

Most runs in the five-match T20I series against South Africa in 2022:

  • Ishan Kishan - 206 (5 inns)
  • Hardik Pandya - 117 (4 inns)
  • Ruturaj Gaikwad - 96 (5 inns)

8. Three-match T20I series vs South Africa in 2022:

India played a three-match T20I series on their home soil in September-October 2022 just before the start of the T20 World Cup 2022. India won this three-match series by a 2-1 margin and went into the big tournament with a positive impact. 

Most runs in the three-match T20I series against South Africa in 2022:

  • Suryakumar Yadav - 119 (3 inns)
  • KL Rahul - 108 (2 inns)
  • Dinesh Karthik - 63 (2 inns)