ICC Champions Trophy 2017, India vs South Africa: The history of their rivalry in the tournament

#3 India vs. South Africa, Group Game, ICC Champions Trophy 2013

Shikhar Dhawan was the star of the show on this occasion

After more than a decade, India and South Africa faced each other in Champions Trophy again in 2013. With Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan at the top, the Indian team looked almost the same as the starting XI right now with the exception of Suresh Raina.

After putting India in to bat, the South Africans struggled to find breakthroughs as Dhawan took apart the Proteas’ line-up like confetti. When Dhawan and Kohli fell in quick succession, Jadeja’s quickfire 47 off just 29 balls put India in a commanding position at the break, with South Africa staring up at a mountainous chase of 332.

The second half of the game was a roller coaster of brilliant passages of play and occasional slip-ups by SA. Peterson and De Villiers sculpted a stuttering chase even as Indian bowlers nibbled away with the wickets. South Africa might have lost that game by 26 runs but it was a lot closer than what the scorecard shows.

India, this time carried this form all the way to a second ICC Champions Trophy title with a win over hosts England.

This leaves us with the all-important knockout clash between India and South Africa on Sunday that will complete the semifinal line-up of editions Champions Trophy. South Africa will be under the pump especially after their dismal performance against Pakistan and India will look to bounce back as title defenders after being handed a reality check by Sri Lanka. Both teams will come out hard and it goes without saying that the better side will book a berth in the semis, weather gods permitting.