That final, Aug. 11 -- The last ball of the 2024 T20 World Cup final told the whole story in a single delivery. South Africa needed 16 from the last over; Jasprit Bumrah was at the top of his mark; the Kensington Oval in Barbados had stopped breathing. Hardik Pandya conceded nine but no more. India won by seven runs. South Africa, within sight of their first global men's cricket title, came up short again.

South Africa took the hurt of Barbados into the red-ball format and produced the most consequential result between the two sides since the turn of the century.

In 2026, South Africa won a two-match Test series in India 2-0. It was the first time South Africa had won a Test series on Indian soil in 25 years. The series was decided by S...