IND vs SA Stats: The exhilarating 2-0 win of South Africa over India in the Test series has left fans speechless, not only because it was a record margin of defeat but also due to some great individual performances that have been showcased.
Simon Harmer has been at the forefront in creating new records and solidifying his place as one of the best spinners in the world in Test cricket. Let’s go through some key stats from the IND vs SA series that included Harmer’s incredible performance and more.
IND vs SA Stats: Record-Breaking Margin of Defeat for India
The defeat of India in the second Test at Guwahati was nothing short of astounding. South Africa just thrashed India by 408 runs, which thus became India’s biggest defeat by runs ever in Test cricket history. As for South Africa, this defeat is their second-biggest victory in Test cricket.
India’s Home Series Whitewash
This series marks the third time India have been whitewashed at home by a visiting side. The previous two instances came against South Africa back in 2000 and New Zealand in 2024. A defeat in 2025 to South Africa underlined that the challenges India now encounter at home, as they were handed their heaviest defeat on Indian soil in over two decades.
Shortest Time Between Home Test Series Defeats
A remarkable stat from this series is that India have suffered two recent home Test series defeats separated by just 394 days first at home against New Zealand in 2024 and now to South Africa in 2025. That represents the second-shortest such duration in India’s Test history, the shortest being a difference of 367 days between defeats to the West Indies and Australia in 1958-60.
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Impressive South African Bowling Statistics
The South African bowling attack was the cornerstone of their success in the series, with a team average of just 15.5 runs per wicket. This is the second-best bowling average for any team in a Test series in India (minimum of two matches). Furthermore, this is the second-best series bowling average for South Africa, just behind the series bowling average set during their 2021 West Indies series.
Dominant Batting vs Bowling Comparison
South Africa’s series batting average was a solid 13.04 runs higher than their bowling average, which is the statistic that encapsulates their comprehensive dominance over India. The differential is significant as only three teams have had a higher batting-bowling differential in a series of two or more matches in India in the history of Test cricket.
India’s Struggles with the Bat
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India’s Low-Scoring Series
Batting failures for India were evident throughout the series. Their highest score this series was 201 in the first innings of the Guwahati Test, which is their lowest “highest total” in any series that comprises two or more Tests. The only lower total has also come in New Zealand, way back in 2002, where India’s highest score was just 161.
Lowest Batting Average in Years
India’s series average for batting worked out to 16.39-their second-lowest in any Test series. It was a reflection of how much India’s batsmen struggled against South Africa’s relentless attack.
Yashasvi Jaiswal: A Rare Bright Spot
The only notable performance for India came from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who managed a 58 in the first innings of the Guwahati Test, thereby recording the highest individual score for India in the series. This, however, remained the joint-lowest “highest individual score” for India in a Test series with two or more matches.
Simon Harmer’s Record-Breaking Performance
The star of the show for South Africa was Simon Harmer, who went into the series with an incredible 8.94 bowling average. It is the best bowling average for any South African bowler in a Test series and second best for any bowler in India (minimum 15 wickets). Harmer’s superb performance with the ball proved to be the major reason for India’s downfall.
Harmer beats Dale Steyn’s record in India
Harmer now holds the record for most Test wickets by a South African bowler in India, eclipsing Dale Steyn’s 26 wickets. With 27 wickets against his name, Harmer’s bowling average in India reads an impressive 15.03, the best among all bowlers with 25 plus wickets in India.
A Record-Breaking Career
Harmer has now taken 69 wickets in his first 14 Tests and is the South African spinner with the most wickets in the first 14 Tests. He overtook Hugh Tayfield’s record of 67 wickets and lies third overall, behind Vernon Philander with 78 and Fanie de Villiers with 70.
Records Tumble for Markram, Jansen, Bavuma
Aiden Markram took 9 catches in the Guwahati Test and created a new record as a fielder for most catches in a Test match. He overtook the previous best of 8 catches by Ajinkya Rahane against Sri Lanka in 2015.
Marco Jansen’s Outstanding Performance
Marco Jansen became the 10th player in the history of Test cricket to score 90-plus and take six wickets or more in the same match. He is just the third South African to do so, joining an elite list that stretches back to 1902.
Temba Bavuma’s Unbeaten Streak Temba Bavuma, the captain of South Africa, has led his team to a total of 11 Test wins without a defeat under his leadership, making him the most successful captain ever in Tests.
Bavuma also managed the longest winning streak by a South African captain, with 8 in succession-the longest since Ricky Ponting’s 16-match streak from 2005 to 2008.
Indias Fielding Woes Catches Galore in Guwahati Another contributory factor in India’s defeat has been their fielding: there were 17 wickets caught in the Guwahati Test, which equals the most catches India have ever conceded in a home Test. Indeed, all ten of India’s wickets in the first innings fell to catches, only the fifth such result on home soil.
