South Africa‘s batting collapse to 74 all out against India in the first T20I of their 2025 tour at Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium on Tuesday marked their lowest T20I total ever, handing India a commanding 101-run victory after the hosts posted 175/6. This humiliating defeat in the five-match series underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in Proteas’ white-ball batting against spin and pace on turning tracks, with India’s bowlers exploiting conditions ruthlessly. As the series shifts focus to leveling the scoreline, this low score joins a notorious list of South African T20I flops, all resulting in losses.
Top 5 lowest scores by South Africa in T20Is
- 74 all out vs India, Cuttack (Dec 9, 2025):
Chasing 176 in T20I opener, South Africa crumbled in 12.3 overs at 5.92 runs per over during the second innings. India’s disciplined attack, led by spinners and seamers who triggered a top-order meltdown, bundled them out with over seven overs unused, sealing a morale-shattering start to the tour on a pitch offering variable bounce.
- 87 all out vs India, Rajkot (Jun 17, 2022):
In the fourth T20I of South Africa’s 2022 India tour at Niranjan Shah Stadium, the visitors folded for 87 in 16.5 overs (RR 5.16) while chasing 170. India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and pacers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismantled the lineup early, with key wickets tumbling amid poor shot selection, resulting in an 82-run thrashing and highlighting adaptation struggles on subcontinental soil.
- 89 all out vs Australia, Johannesburg (Feb 21, 2020):
Hosting Australia at The Wanderers in T20I #1046, South Africa managed just 89 in 14.3 overs (RR 6.13) chasing 197. Ashton Agar‘s career-best 4/20 spun a web around the home batters, who lost wickets in clusters on a lively pitch, suffering a 107-run defeat that exposed middle-order frailties under lights.
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- 95 all out vs India, Johannesburg (Dec 14, 2023):
During India’s 2023-24 tour, South Africa were skittled for 95 in 13.5 overs (RR 6.86) at The Wanderers while pursuing 202. Kuldeep Yadav‘s masterful 5/17 tore through the batting order on a slowing surface, with early breakthroughs leaving the Proteas shell-shocked in a 106-run loss despite a competitive total posted by India.
- 96 all out vs Australia, Cape Town (Feb 26, 2020):
In the third T20I at Newlands, South Africa chased 194 but collapsed to 96 in 15.3 overs (RR 6.19). Mitchell Starc‘s fiery spell and Australia’s pace barrage exploited seam movement, leading to a 97-run hammering as the hosts’ chase imploded after a promising powerplay.
These batting meltdowns reveal patterns of collapses against quality spin and bounce, prompting urgent introspection for South Africa ahead of the remaining T20Is against India. With three of the five lows against the same opponent, subcontinental conditions remain a kryptonite for the Proteas’ T20 ambitions.
