Team India delivered a historic performance in Johannesburg, securing a massive 134-run victory over South Africa in the fourth T20I. The emphatic win, powered by record-breaking centuries from Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma, capped a commanding 3-1 series triumph under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav.
A Night of Records
The Wanderers Stadium witnessed a batting masterclass as Samson and Tilak unleashed an onslaught, leaving South Africa stunned. Their remarkable efforts, along with Abhishek Sharma’s quick-fire 36, helped India post an imposing 283/1—the fifth-highest total in men’s T20I history.
Samson and Tilak’s centuries placed them among an elite group, making them only the third pair in men’s T20Is to score hundreds in the same innings. The rare feat was previously achieved by the Czech Republic duo Sabawoon Davizi and Dylan Steyn in 2022, and Japan’s Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming and Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake earlier this year.
Breaking Boundaries
India’s total of 283/1 also set a new benchmark for the highest T20 score ever recorded in South Africa, surpassing the 271/3 scored by the Titans against the Knights in Potchefstroom in 2022.
Additionally, the unbeaten 210-run partnership between Samson and Tilak for the second wicket is now the highest-ever stand for India in T20Is and the first double-century partnership for the team in the format.
India hammered 23 sixes during the innings, tying for the third-most in a men’s T20I. Zimbabwe holds the record with 27 sixes in a match against Gambia last month.
A Historic Series Win
This performance underscores India’s dominance in T20Is, as they now hold the record for the most 250-plus totals (three) in the format. The achievement places them ahead of teams like the Czech Republic, Japan, and Zimbabwe, who each have two such totals.
With their 3-1 series victory over one of the strongest T20 sides in the world, India has further solidified its position as a powerhouse in the shortest format.
