India Women’s National Cricket Team Vs South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline: Every Twist, Turn, and Triumph

Last Updated: June 12, 2026

Two teams. Decades of drama. And a rivalry that has quietly become one of the most compelling storylines in women’s cricket.

The India Women’s National Cricket Team Vs South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline is not just a list of scorecards. It is a story of two cricketing nations finding their identity, their confidence, and their flair in the women’s game. From scrappy bilateral series in the early 2010s to a World Cup final in front of 39,000 roaring fans in Navi Mumbai, this rivalry has grown into something genuinely special.

So if you want to know everything about the India Women’s National Cricket Team Vs South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline, from the first ICC clashes to the latest T20I series in April 2026, you are in the right place. Buckle in.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. All match data, statistics, and records have been compiled from publicly available and reputable cricket databases. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and reliability, readers are encouraged to verify important information with official sources, as cricket records are subject to updates and revisions.

How It All Began: The Early Chapter

Women’s cricket between India and South Africa dates back to the early 2000s, though bilateral contests were sporadic in those early years. Both nations were building their women’s programs from scratch. India had the backing of the BCCI, while South Africa had solid domestic infrastructure through Cricket South Africa.

The India Women’s National Cricket Team Vs South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team rivalry picked up serious momentum in the 2010s, when both sides started fielding consistently strong squads and scheduling dedicated bilateral tours. Before that, most meetings happened on the neutral turf of ICC tournaments.

What changed the dynamic? Professionalism. Both boards invested in central contracts, improved training setups, and committed to regular women’s fixtures. The result: a rivalry with real teeth, real stakes, and genuinely great cricket.

Rivalry: Key Players and Memorable Performances (Era-Wise Till 2026)

2005 to 2012: The Quiet Foundation

This era was mostly about ICC tournament appearances. India was building its identity around Mithali Raj, who would go on to become the highest run-scorer in women’s ODI history. South Africa had Sune Luus and Dane van Niekerk growing in stature. Bilateral series between the two teams were rare, and most fans caught sight of each other only at World Cups.

Key figures from this era:

• Mithali Raj (India): The anchor of Indian women’s batting for two decades, quietly building India’s credibility on the world stage.
• Sune Luus (South Africa): An all-rounder who became central to SA’s plans across all formats.

2013 to 2018: The Rivalry Heats Up

Both teams became regular bilateral visitors. Smriti Mandhana burst onto the scene for India. South Africa had Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp adding serious firepower. The 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup in England was a turning point: South Africa beat India comprehensively in the group stage by 115 runs, with van Niekerk scoring 57 and taking 4/22. That result stung and forced India to introspect.

Jhulan Goswami kept terrorising batters with pace for India. Harmanpreet Kaur was cementing her reputation as a big-match player.

2019 to 2026: The Golden Era

This is where things get truly spectacular. Smriti Mandhana became the number one batter in the world at various points. Deepti Sharma evolved into a genuine match-winner across formats. Laura Wolvaardt rose to become arguably the best women’s batter in world cricket today.

The 2024 home series for India saw Mandhana score 343 runs in just three ODIs, including back-to-back centuries. Then came November 2, 2025: the date every Indian cricket fan will remember for the rest of their lives.

And just five months after that historic World Cup win, South Africa arrived in April 2026 and delivered a 4-1 T20I series demolition that reminded everyone this rivalry has two genuine powerhouses.

ICC Matches Between the Teams

The India Women’s National Cricket Team Vs South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team have crossed paths multiple times in ICC tournaments. Here is a consolidated view of all confirmed ICC encounters between these two sides.

ODI ICC Women’s World Cup

India and South Africa did NOT meet in the 2005 or 2013 Women’s World Cup finals. The 2005 final was Australia vs India; the 2013 final was Australia vs West Indies. All rows below reflect only confirmed direct meetings between these two sides in ICC World Cup matches.

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

In the 2018 and 2020 editions, India and South Africa were placed in different groups and did NOT play each other in the group stage. The 2023 edition similarly had them in separate groups (India: Group B, South Africa: Group A). The 2024 T20 WC had India in Group A and South Africa in Group B, and again they did not meet in the group stage. Only confirmed direct encounters are shown below.

2023 T20 WC: In the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup held in South Africa, India (Group B) and South Africa (Group A) were in separate groups and did not meet. South Africa reached the final where they lost to Australia by 19 runs. India were eliminated in the semi-final stage. The two sides had no direct ICC T20 WC encounter in 2023.

2020 T20 WC: India and South Africa both qualified for the semi-finals from different groups. Their only confirmed direct group-stage meeting needs verification. Based on available data, they were in different groups in 2020 (India in Group A, SA in Group A), and no group match between them occurred. The row above is under review; only a knockout encounter is confirmed.

ICC Champions Trophy

The ICC Women’s Champions Trophy has not featured both India and South Africa Women in a confirmed direct head-to-head encounter in the tournament’s history to date.

IND vs SA Head to Head (Test)

India and South Africa Women have played three Test matches against each other across three separate tours: 2001-02, 2014-15, and 2024. India have won all three.

The Newlands Test in March 2002 was abandoned due to rain after only 4 overs of South Africa’s innings, with no result. It is not counted as a decisive Test. The 2014 and 2024 Tests are both India wins.

Overall Women’s Test Record (IND vs SA):

India have dominated completely in Women’s Test cricket against South Africa, winning both decisive matches. The 2014 win in Mysore came by an innings and 34 runs, powered by Thirush Kamini’s 192 and nine wickets from Harmanpreet Kaur. The 2024 win in Chennai was even more emphatic: India posted 603/6 dec, the highest team total in Women’s Test cricket history, with Shafali Verma scoring 205 off 194 balls, the fastest double century in Women’s Test history. Sneh Rana took 10 wickets across both SA innings to wrap up a 10-wicket win on Day 4.

IND vs SA Head to Head (ODI)

The ODI format is where this rivalry has produced the most content, the most drama, and the most memorable records.

Overall ODI Record (as of June 2026, source: ESPNcricinfo / CricTracker):

India hold a clear edge in the ODI format. Before the 2024 home series, India had won 20 of 33 ODIs. After sweeping SA 3-0 in the 2024 home series and winning the 2025 WC Final, the tally stands at 22 wins. South Africa’s 13 wins include two important World Cup victories in 2022 (Christchurch) and the 2025 group-stage clash (Visakhapatnam), plus a decisive series win in 2021 (4-1).

Notable ODI Results (Select Key Matches)

India won the 2024 home ODI series 3-0. The 3rd ODI on Jun 22 at Rajkot was lost by India. India’s series win came from the first two matches. SA won the 2021 home ODI series 4-1 in India, which was a major series win for South Africa. The 2022 WC match at Christchurch (275/6 chasing 275) was among the most dramatic in the rivalry’s ODI history.

IND vs SA Head to Head (T20I)

The Ind-W Vs Sa-W T20I rivalry has been tightly contested across many bilateral series. As of June 2026, the cumulative record is close, with South Africa pushing hard in recent series.

Overall T20I Record (as of June 2026, source: Sportskeeda / ESPNcricinfo):

How the count breaks down: Prior to the July 2024 series, 16 T20Is had been played (India: 9 wins, SA: 5 wins, 2 NR). The July 2024 series added 2 more matches with results (SA won T20I-1, India won T20I-3; T20I-2 was rained off). The April 2026 series added 5 more (SA won 4, India won 1). Total: ~24 matches with results.

Key T20I Series Results

April 2026 T20I Series (India Women’s Tour of South Africa)

South Africa won the series 4-1.

Player of the Series: Laura Wolvaardt (SA) with 330 runs across the five matches.

Deepti Sharma took her maiden T20I five-wicket haul (5/19) in the 4th match. Even in a series loss, India’s quality showed.

IND vs SA Records

Highest Individual Scores in ODIs

Best Bowling Figures in Bilateral/ICC Matches

Highest Totals in an Innings

Lowest Totals in an Innings

SA’s 84 all out in the 3rd T20I in Chennai (July 9, 2024) is the lowest total by either side in T20Is between these two teams. India chased it down in 10.5 overs without losing a wicket (88/0). SA’s 132 all out (2nd innings, 2014 Test) led to their innings defeat in Mysore.

Greatest Wins

The 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup Final: The Night India Changed Everything

Let us talk about this properly, because this moment deserves more than a single line.

On November 2, 2025, at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, the India Women’s National Cricket Team Vs South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team played the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup in front of 39,555 fans. India, sent in to bat after losing the toss, posted 298/7 in 50 overs. Shafali Verma blazed 87 off 78 balls in a career-best knock. Deepti Sharma added a crucial 58 off 58 balls lower down.

South Africa needed 299. Laura Wolvaardt, their captain, made a magnificent 101 off 98 balls. She fought. She kept SA alive. But Deepti Sharma had other ideas. She finished with 5/39, tearing through the middle and lower order. South Africa were bowled out for 246 in 45.3 overs.

India won by 52 runs. Their first ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title. Their third final after 2005 (lost to Australia) and 2017 (lost to England). And they did it at home, in front of their own fans. It was also the first Women’s ODI World Cup final not to feature Australia or England, making it historic in every sense.

Shafali Verma won the Player of the Match. Deepti Sharma was named Player of the Tournament (215 runs, 22 wickets). India, who had lost three group stage matches before winning the semi-final and final, became only the second team after Pakistan (1992) and England (2019) in any 50-over World Cup to win the title after losing three group games.

Expert Insight: “Deepti Sharma’s performance in the 2025 Women’s World Cup final was one of the all-time great all-round displays in a knockout match. Five wickets and a crucial 58 with the bat, under that pressure, on home soil, in a final. She is the first player in any ODI World Cup, men’s or women’s, to hit a fifty and take a five-wicket haul in a knockout game.” (Post-match analysis based on ESPN Cricinfo and ICC commentary records.)

The April 2026 T20I Series: SA Hits Back Hard

Just five months after India lifted the World Cup, South Africa arrived for a five-match T20I series on home soil looking for revenge. And they got it. Comprehensive, clinical, emphatic revenge.

The India Women’s National Cricket Team Vs South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team April 2026 T20I series was a masterclass in home advantage and individual brilliance. Laura Wolvaardt, who had made a century in a losing World Cup final cause, absolutely demolished India’s bowling attack on her home turf. Her 53-ball 115 in the 3rd T20I at the Wanderers was the defining knock of the series, chasing down 193 with 21 balls to spare.

South Africa won the series 4-1. India’s only bright spot was the 4th T20I, where Deepti Sharma claimed her maiden T20I five-wicket haul (5/19) along with 36* with the bat to pull off a 14-run win.

India debutants Kashvee Gautam and Anushka Sharma gained invaluable experience in this series, which served as South Africa’s final home preparation ahead of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England.

Looking ahead: The two sides are scheduled to meet at the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on June 21, 2026, at Old Trafford in Manchester. Both teams are in Group 1. Given South Africa’s sizzling T20I form (330 runs from Wolvaardt alone in the last series) and India’s World Cup pedigree, this promises to be one of the most watched matches of the tournament.

Where to Watch India Women’s National Cricket Team Vs South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team

Fans worldwide have solid options to follow the Sa-W Vs Indw action live.

IND vs SA Women ICC Rankings (June 2026)

Both teams are firmly in the top tier of women’s cricket globally. Here are the verified ICC rankings as of June 12, 2026.

ICC Women’s ODI Team Rankings (June 2026):

ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings (June 2026):

India sit 3rd in both ODI and T20I team rankings as of June 2026. South Africa are 4th in ODIs and 5th in T20Is. Australia lead both formats comfortably, with England in second place across the board. The standings reflect South Africa’s impressive T20I form through 2025-26, while India’s ODI World Cup win keeps them solidly in the top three across formats.

What Makes This Rivalry So Good?

Here is the straight answer: both teams have genuinely different styles that clash beautifully.

India relies on top-order batting depth. Mandhana and Shafali Verma provide explosive starts. Harmanpreet Kaur anchors the middle. Deepti Sharma is a genuine x-factor who can turn a game with bat or ball on any given day. Their spin attack is world-class in subcontinent conditions.

South Africa counter with express pace at the top through Ayabonga Khaka, exceptional fielding, and one of the best captains in the game right now in Laura Wolvaardt. Their batting is aggressive and fearless, and their lower-order grit has repeatedly stolen close games.

When these two styles collide? You get World Cup finals decided by 52 runs. You get 115 off 53 balls. You get 5/39 in a knockout game. You get, in short, great cricket.

Review

The South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team Vs India Women’s National Cricket Team rivalry sits in a genuinely fascinating spot right now. India are ODI world champions. South Africa are arguably the hottest T20I side heading into the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup. Neither team can claim complete dominance.

Over the full arc of the India Women’s National Cricket Team Vs South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline, India hold the better win-loss ratio across both ODIs and T20Is. But South Africa’s T20I form in 2025 and 2026, Wolvaardt’s frightening consistency, and their home conditions advantage make them a real threat in any format on any given day.

Conclusion

The India Women’s National Cricket Team Vs South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline is a story still being written, and written well. From rare ICC tournament encounters in the 2000s to a World Cup final in 2025 and a brutal T20I whitewash in April 2026, the India Women’s National Cricket Team Vs South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team Matches have produced some of women’s cricket’s finest moments.

India became world champions. South Africa won four of five T20Is on home soil barely five months later. At Old Trafford on June 21, 2026, another chapter gets added to this South Africa Women’s National Cricket Team Vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline.

The Ind Vs Sa Women story, you can be sure, is only getting better from here.

? FAQs

Q1. What is the overall ODI head-to-head record between India Women and South Africa Women?

India Women lead with approximately 22 wins to South Africa’s 13, with 1 no result, as of June 2026.

Q2. Who won the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup final between India Women and South Africa Women?

India Women won by 52 runs at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai on November 2, 2025. India scored 298/7 and bowled South Africa out for 246 in 45.3 overs.

Q3. Who was Player of the Match in the 2025 Women’s World Cup Final?

Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match for her career-best 87 off 78 balls.

Q4. Who was Player of the Series in the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup?

Deepti Sharma was named Player of the Series, scoring 215 runs and taking 22 wickets across the tournament.

Q5. What happened in the India Women vs South Africa Women April 2026 T20I series?

South Africa won the five-match T20I series 4-1. Laura Wolvaardt was Player of the Series with 330 runs. India’s only win came in the 4th match, where Deepti Sharma took her maiden T20I five-wicket haul (5/19).

Q6. Where can I watch India Women vs South Africa Women matches?

In India, matches broadcast on Star Sports and stream on JioCinema. In South Africa, SuperSport carries all coverage. Globally, ICC.tv and regional broadcasters cover key series.

Q7. When is the next India vs South Africa Women match in 2026?

The teams are scheduled to meet at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on June 21, 2026, at Old Trafford, Manchester, as part of Group 1.

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