India’s victory was all but assured after their first innings. Posting a record total on the scoreboard, India was merely waiting to celebrate. They progressed toward victory early with the ball, and despite a brief resistance, South Africa couldn’t avoid the embarrassment of chasing a record total.
On Friday, India and South Africa faced off in the fourth and final T20I of the series. With two wins from the previous three matches, India was already leading the series. This time, a record 135-run victory secured the series 3-1 for India.
India’s innings made South Africa’s comeback almost impossible. They shattered records with their batting performance. Winning the toss and choosing to bat first in Johannesburg, India showcased a series of remarkable feats. They scored 283 runs for the loss of just one wicket!
In response, South Africa lost four wickets for just 10 runs in the first three overs. Although they managed a brief recovery, they could only reach 148 runs in 18.2 overs. This resulted in South Africa’s heaviest T20I defeat in terms of runs.
Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma were unstoppable with the bat. They entertained the world by both scoring centuries in a single T20I match, a rare feat. India achieved their best-ever total on South African soil thanks to them.
India was aggressive from the start. Abhishek Sharma scored 36 off 18 balls, setting a solid opening partnership before being dismissed, with India at 73/1 in 5.5 overs. Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson then took charge.
Tilak, who scored a century in the previous match, repeated the feat. Sanju Samson, who already held the record for consecutive centuries in T20Is, was equaled by Tilak. But Sanju was not done; he also reached his hundred.
Sanju Samson now has three centuries in a calendar year. Additionally, this match marked the first time two Indian players scored centuries in the same T20I. Sanju scored 109 off 56 balls, while Tilak scored 120 off 47 balls.
Both remained unbeaten, adding an unbroken 210 runs in 86 balls — the highest partnership in T20 cricket. Together, they hit 19 sixes, contributing to a total of 23 sixes in the innings, setting a record for the most sixes in a single T20I innings.
South Africa was troubled early by Arshdeep Singh’s fiery bowling. He dismissed Reeza Hendricks (0) in the first over and returned in the third over to claim two more wickets: Aiden Markram (8) and Heinrich Klaasen, who was sent back for a golden duck.
Ryan Rickelton (1) was dismissed by Hardik Pandya, reducing South Africa to 10/4, sparking fears of a complete collapse. Although they managed a partial recovery, they couldn’t come close to India’s massive total.
Tristan Stubbs (43), David Miller (36), and Marco Jansen’s quick 29* off 12 balls helped reduce the margin but couldn’t prevent a heavy defeat. The 135-run win was India’s third-largest in T20I history and South Africa’s biggest defeat.
Arshdeep Singh took three wickets, while Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel each took two wickets for India. With this victory, India clinched the series. Tilak Varma was named Player of the Series and also won Player of the Match.
