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The excitement is once again at its peak as India give one more shot to win a Test series on South African soil. India with their tails high travel to a nation where they have never won a Test series despite having some of the greats of the game. It’s almost three decades since India made their first tour to the Rainbow Nation, but on every occasion, the team has capitulated misery. Whether it was in the leadership of Mohammad Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly or Mahendra Singh Dhoni, all have returned empty-handed from their South African safari. Here is a look at how India have fared on their visits to Africa’s no. 1.
1992: 0-1 loss for Azharuddin’s men
This series wrote its name in the history books on multiple fronts as the ‘Third Umpire’ was used for the first time in the history of cricket. The tour which saw India lose the four-match series 0-1 was the first time India toured the nation. Three draws and a loss in Port Elizabeth saw India narrowly miss out on the share of spoils. The series win was South Africa’s first since reintroduction in cricket after 1970.
1997: 0-2 loss under Sachin Tendulkar
The Indian team faced nightmares in the tour as Tendulkar’s army was first dismantled in Durban by 328 runs followed by a 282-run loss in Cape Town. The likes Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid did score centuries on tour but still were no matches to the lethal bowling attack of Alan Donald. Both the defeats are still ranked in the top 10 worse losses for India in terms of runs as a 0-2 loss downed Team India.
2001: Failure of the golden generation
When you have the likes of Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Tendulkar and a debutant Virender Sehwag in the playing 11, the team is expected to win nine out of 10 times. However, the team disappointed in Bloemfontein and lost by nine wickets. The first innings saw both Sehwag and Tendulkar score centuries but end on the losing side. Herschelle Gibbs, involved in fixing scandal during the era was South Africa’s architect in the win. Ganguly’s men did manage to draw the second Test, but ultimately lost the series 0-1.
2007: Dravid and Chappell era bring no change in luck
The tour on the eve of the 2007 World Cup saw India register their first win on South African soil, but despite leading 1-0 the Rahul Dravid’s men lost 2-1. The tour was a disappointment altogether as India also lost the ODI series 0-4. The Test win in Johannesburg was followed by back-to-back losses in Durban and Cape Town. Interestingly, India would return to South Africa in the following September to win the inaugural T20 World Cup under MS Dhoni.
2010-11: Legendary MS Dhoni’s India avoid series defeat for the first time with 1-1 draw
The iconic MS Dhoni had two bites at the cheery, first in 2010-11 and then in 2013-14 but failed to win the series on both occasions. A 1-1 draw on the eve of 2011 World Cup success saw India come from behind, but Jacques Kallis who was named ‘Man of the Series' was the biggest barrier. India won the second Test in Durban after losing the first Test in Centurion to salvage a draw and avoid a series defeat for the first time.
2013-14: Dhoni fails at second bite of cheery
MS Dhoni became the first Indian captain to lead India in two-Test series in South Africa, but unlike 2010-11 the team failed miserably. South Africa were on the cusp of history as they almost chased India’s 458 run target as they ended Day 5 on 450/7 in Johannesburg. South Africa though did have the final word as they won the second Test in Durban by 10 wickets to take the series home by 1-0.
2018: New captain but same old story
Virat Kohli was the latest in 2018 to lead the side, but there was no luck for him as India lost the opening two Test matches to eventually lose the series. Kohli’s men did win the third Test by 63 runs, but the victory in Johannesburg by 63 runs proved to be a mere consolation for Team India. The 1-2 series loss saw Kohli become the highest scoring Indian captain in Test match cricket.
