IND vs SA: Virat Kohli Is the Only Indian Captain to Achieve THIS Feat in Test Cricket

South Africa are coming to India to play two Test matches from November 14 to 26. This is the eighth time they are touring India for a Test series since 1996 and the first time since 2019. India will face them under the leadership of Shubman Gill. South Africa will aim to end a 25-year Test series drought while India shall look for a 5th Test series victory over the Proteas.

India vs South Africa Test Series

It was Sachin Tendulkar who led India to their first-ever Test series win vs South Africa in 1996. That also included their first Test victory over them in the opening game of the series that the hosts ultimately won 2-1. Overall, India have won four Test series, all of which have come on home soil. But Virat Kohli has done what no other India captain has done against South Africa in Tests.

© X/ICC

Virat Kohli’s Unique Achievement vs South Africa

Kohli is the only Indian captain to inflict a Test series whitewash on South Africa. It happened in 2019 when India hosted the men from the Rainbow Nation. India crushed the tourists 3-0 and during that series Kohli hit his top Test score of 254 not out. Until 2025, it was the highest score by an Indian Test captain. This was also the series in which Rohit Sharma got his second lease of life in Tests with 176 and 127 after being given the opening slot. All in all, a series to remember for the hosts.

‘King’ is also the only Indian skipper to beat South Africa in a Test series twice. Sachin was the first while Sourav Ganguly did it in 2004. Other than the 3-0 whitewash that Kohli’s team inflicted in 2019, his team also won 3-0 when South Africa toured India in 2015. That was nearly a whitewash too but the second Test was drawn due to rain. India won three out of four matches to script a 3-0 win. Ajinkya Rahane’s twin centuries in the fourth Test were the highlight of the series. Not to mention excellent spin bowling by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

© X/ICC

Virat Kohli Rules the Roost vs South Africa

Other than this, Kohli has also won the most Tests vs South Africa among Indian skippers. He has led India to eight Test victories. Six of them have come on home soil while two were in South Africa. The 2018 one was a dead rubber as India had already lost the series 2-0 and avoided a whitewash. The one in 2021-22 helped India take a 1-0 lead which they squandered and lost the series 2-1. This had happened in 2006-07 under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy as well.

South Africa Statistically Superior vs India

India have never won a Test series in South Africa while South Africa have won one in India. Both India and South Africa have drawn two Test series in each other’s backyards. Overall, they have played 16 Test series against each other in which South Africa have won eight and India four. So since 1992, South Africa have had the upper hand in Test series vs India. But all that is history as Gill’s men look to add one more series victory to their tally when the action gets underway in Kolkata followed by Guwahati.