SA vs IND, 4th T20I: Sanju Samson, Tilak power record-breaking India to series win

India’s remarkable year in T20Is ended on a fittingly high note as they flexed their batting firepower to outclass South Africa in the fourth and final match of a T20I series on Friday, November 15. Records tumbled in Johannesburg on Friday as Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson hit a hundred each to power India to 283 in 20 overs. India completed a memorable 3-1 series win after bowling out South Africa for 148 in 18.2 overs and sealing a 135-run win in front of a packed crowd at the Wanderers. | Scorecard |

Arshdeep Singh came up with a dreamy spell with the new ball, picking up three wickets and rattling the South African top-order. He got the ball to move both ways and had the Proteas batters in all sorts of trouble in the middle The hosts were reduced to 10 for 4 in the third over and their hopes of a record chase were extinguished early. Hardik Pandya also shone with the new ball while Varun Chakravarthy took two crucial wickets despite having been a bit on the expensive side.

SA vs IND, 4th T20I Live reactions

Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson broke a series of records, becoming the first pair of batters from a Test-playing nation to hit hundreds in the same T20I. Their 210-run partnership, which came in 86 deliveries, set the stage for India’s 283 — their highest total in an overseas

It is safe to say that India revamped how they played T20I cricket in 2024. Led by former captain Rohit Sharma, India started bulldozing the opposition with the bat. Shedding the fear of failure, Indian batters played with freedom and aggressive intent from the top to the lower order. The change in approach worked wonders as India went on to win the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies in June.

Taking over from Rohit Sharma, captain Suryakumar Yadav ensured India played in the same vein, if not more aggressively. The fruits of all the hard work and conviction were there to be seen as India outbatted South Africa in South Africa to win a T20I series in the Rainbow Nation for the fourth time in history. India ended the calendar year with 24 wins from 26 matches in T20 internationals.

The unrestrained batting approach was in full flow on Friday after Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bat on a pitch that has been a graveyard for bowlers for quite some time. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson saw off the first over, managing just four runs. But, from the second over, it was a sensational show of big-hitting.