Freedom Trophy

2023-2024 Edition

The 2023-2024 edition of the Freedom Trophy, held in South Africa, was one of the most memorable India-South Africa encounters in recent years, blending intense cricket with major commercial and cultural developments off the field. The Test series ended 1-1, with South Africa winning the opening match by an innings before India roared back to claim the second Test at Cape Town by seven wickets. In the shorter formats, India’s consistency shone through: a 2-1 win in the ODIs and a 1-1 draw in the T20Is (after one washout) gave them an edge across formats.

Commercially, the tour was a financial success for Cricket South Africa (CSA), which reported a profit of R 815 million (around USD 45.6 million or ₹382 crore) for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. That figure represented a dramatic turnaround compared to the previous season and was largely driven by the India series and the domestic SA20 league. Broadcasting alone accounted for over 54% of CSA’s total income, while sponsorship revenue nearly tripled year-over-year to R 119 million (₹55.8 crore). ICC distributions to CSA also jumped to R 566 million (₹265 crore) from R 290 million the previous period, showing how the India tour continues to be the financial backbone of the host board’s calendar. For comparison, the India vs England home series in early 2021 generated roughly USD 60 million (₹500 crore) in broadcast value, highlighting that even a compact tour in South Africa now sits within the same commercial league.

Crowd numbers told a similarly upbeat story. Centurion and Cape Town each drew crowds in the 25,000-30,000 range per day, represented near-capacity attendance for South African venues. The T20I series was a particular hit with local fans, producing a 1.5 million unique TV audience and about 3.9 million hours of viewing time on SuperSport (up nearly 194% from the previous year). These figures positioned the series among South Africa’s top three most-watched cricket events of the decade. In India, Disney+ Hotstar and Star Sports recorded strong primetime engagement, with the T20Is achieving viewership comparable to mid-stage IPL fixtures, proving again how bilateral contests featuring India drive global ratings.

The tour also spotlighted gender imbalance within the sport: while the men’s Freedom Trophy drew millions in viewership, the concurrent rise of women’s cricket leagues like WPL in India began to push conversations on parity in sponsorship and coverage. This reflected a changing sports landscape where commercial gains increasingly hinge on inclusivity and wider fan engagement rather than just traditional rivalries.

Earlier Editions

From September 29 to December 7, 2015, the South African team toured India. Three T20I matches, five ODI, and four Test matches made up the tour. South Africa played India in a Twenty20 International for the first time, which happened to be the first time a four-match Test series between the two countries was played in India. South Africa and India split the ODI, T20I, and Test series wins. From September 29 to December 7, 2015, the South African cricket team visited India. Beginning with this series, all bilateral trips between India and South Africa were termed the Mahatma Gandhi-Nelson Mandela series, with the sides competing for the Freedom Trophy. In this tour to India, there were a total of 4 Tests, and 1 of them ended in a draw and India won the 4-test series by 3-0.

In January and February 2018, the Indian cricket team traveled to South Africa to compete in three Tests, six ODIs, & three T20 Internationals. Due to financial and scheduling conflicts, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced in January 2017 that this trip would take the place of Sri Lanka's planned visit. South Africa won the Freedom Trophy after winning the first two Test matches of the Test series, which was fought for the trophy. The Test series was ultimately won by South Africa, 2-1.

Dale Steyn made his comeback to international cricket during the Test series. In Perth, Australia, in November 2016, he last participated in a Test match for South Africa and sustained a shoulder injury. Steyn hurt his left heel on day two of the first Test, though. With a recovery period of four to six weeks, this disqualified him from the remainder of the Test. He was disqualified from the remainder of the series two days later. The series winner was the South African team.

In September and October 2019, the South Africa cricket team traveled to India to compete in three Test matches and three T20I games. The Test series was a part of the first ICC World Test Championship, which ran from 2019 to 2021. Quinton de Kock was selected captain of the T20I team in August 2019, while Cricket South Africa stated that Faf du Plessis will captain the Test team during the visit. The Committee of Administrators (CoA) decided to alter the locations of the second and third Tests later that month at the request of the Jharkhand Cricket Association owing to Durga Puja celebrations in Ranchi during the second week of October. The third Test was initially supposed to take place at Ranchi, but Pune instead hosted the second Test.

When the first match was postponed, the three-match T20I series was tied by a single point. India won the first two games of the Test series to grab a commanding 2-0 lead. India won the eleventh straight series at home, a new mark for any side in Test cricket. To finish the series 3-0, India won the last Test by innings & 202 runs.

In a bilateral Test series versus South Africa, it was India's first defeat. South Africa lost the previous two Tests by innings. When Australia visited in 1935-1936, they last suffered consecutive Test match defeats by an innings margin.

In March 2020, South Africa traveled back to India to play three ODI games. The journey to India for the ODI matches will still go on, Cricket South Africa said on March 6, 2020, despite the COVID-19 epidemic. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that the two remaining ODIs will be played behind closed doors to lessen the effects of the coronavirus after the first ODI was postponed due to rain with no play. The final two ODI matches were abandoned on March 13, 2020.

Rudi Second's absence from South Africa's Test team before the tour was a result of an injury. Heinrich Klaasen took his position. Because of fitness concerns, JJ Smuts was also removed from South Africa's T20I team and George Linde took his place. Due to a stress fracture, Jasprit Bumrah was forced to withdraw from India's Test team, and Umesh Yadav took his place. Keshav Maharaj was replaced by George Linde after a shoulder injury forced him out of South Africa's team before the third and final Test. To replace Kuldeep Yadav, Shahbaz Nadeem was introduced to India's lineup for the third Test. India won the 3-match series by 3-0.

During December 2021 and January 2022, the Indian cricket team traveled to South Africa to play three Tests & three ODI games. The 2021-2023 ICC World Test Championship included the Test matches. India won the opening Test at Centurion Park by 113 runs, becoming the only team to ever win a Test match there. It was also Quinton de Kock's last Test match, as he declared his retirement from Test cricket after the game with immediate effect. By winning the second Test by seven wickets, South Africa tied the overall series. At the Wanderers Stadium, it was the first time South Africa had defeated India in a Test match.

The final and third Test was won by South Africa, likewise by seven wickets, giving them a 2-1 series victory. Virat Kohli announced that he was resigning as India's Test cricket captain the day after the conclusion of the third game.

With Rassie van der Dussen's perfect century, South Africa defeated England in the opening ODI by 31 runs. With one match remaining in the series, South Africa won the second one-day international by seven wickets. The series was won 3-0 by South Africa thanks to a four-run victory in the last ODI.