The Indian National Men’s Cricket Team are going lock horns with South Africa in a five-match T20I series at home from June 9 to 19. The series will start off at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi and end with the final game at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Team India would be led by Rishabh Pant in the T20I series against the Proteas, with regular skipper Rohit Sharma rested and the vice-captain KL Rahul being injured. Apart from Rohit, senior batter Virat Kohli as well as experienced pacers Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah have also been rested.

Whereas,  Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya have made a comeback into Team India on the basis of their performance in IPL 2022.

Team India and the Proteas have faced each other in 15 T20Is till date, with Team India leading with nine victories thereby losing six. As we begin this series, let’s look back at three memorable batting efforts by Indian players versus South African.

3. Virat Kohli (72* off 44 Mirpur, April 2014 - T20 World Cup 2nd semi-final)

In the 2014 T20 World Cup semi-final, Virat Kohli played an innings that led India to victory against the Proteas in Mirpur. Chasing a total of 173 to reach the final, Team India lost Rohit for 24 off 13. However, Kohli (72 off 44), with help from Ajinkya Rahane (32 off 30) and Raina (21 off 10), helped India to achieve victory with six wickets in hand.

Kohli’s brilliance overshadowed Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis’ 58 off 41and India marched into the finals.

2. Suresh Raina (101 off 60 in Gros Islet, May 2010 - T20 World Cup)

Former Team India batsman Suresh Raina hit 101 off 60 balls in Gros Islet in the fifth match of the 2010 T20 World Cup. After being sent into bat after losing the toss, the team lost Murali Vijay for a duck in the very first over. The other opener, Dinesh Karthik, also had gone cheaply for 16. Then, Raina and Yuvraj Singh (37 off 30) kept the Indian innings on track with a third-wicket stand of 88.

Raina was lucky in the fifth over when he was caught off Morne Morkel. However, the bowler overstepped and was called for a free-hit. The left-hander brought up his ton by going after Albie Morkel over the midwicket boundary for a six. He ended his innings hitting nine fours and five sixes in the process as India put up 186 for five. In spite of Jacques Kallis’ knock of 73, the Proteas could only manage to reach 172 for five.

1. Rohit Sharma (106 off 66 in Dharamsala, October 2015)

In the first match that was played between India and South Africa, in the South Africa Tour of India in 2015, South Africa won the toss and decided to bowl first. Rohit Sharma scored 106 runs off 66 balls after South Africa. He hit 12 fours and five sixes in the process as India posted an impressive 199 for five.

After a slow start, Rohit had gone after Chris Morris for a four and a six in the sixth over with Team India ending the powerplay at 46 for one. He brought up his half-century off 39 balls by timing Kyle Abbott, past third man, for four. Rohit smashed two sixes against Kagiso Rabada in the 13th over thereby Team India began boosting their run rate.

Rohit brought up his maiden T20I hundred in style in the 15th over. After flicking Marchant de Lange for four to the long leg boundary, he dispatched the next ball over long-off for a maximum to reach his ton. Hitman’s brilliant knock went in vain as JP Duminy’s unbeaten 68 off 34 saw South Africa chase down 200 with seven wickets in hand.