Then, during the triangular Titan Cup in India last winter, out of form Australiia were ousted in the league and India went on to emerge triumphant.
The two countries have completed a hat-trick by appearing in the Standard Bank triangular final at Durban on Wednesday.
In between these tournaments, India and South Africa played the one off Pepsi Challenge Cup, aka the Mohinder Amarnath benefit match, in Bombay in which India notched up superb 74 run victory.
However, South Africa enjoys the upper hand against India, winning 17 of the 25 limited over matches the two countries have played against each other, to yield a whopping success ratio of 68. India has registered only two wins versus South Africa abroad -- those being way back in the 1992-93 season.