In the fifth T20I match against Team India, South Africa skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to bowl first at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The “Men in Blue” have made two changes, in which Kuldeep Yadav makes way for Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah replaces Harshit Rana for the clash. In South Africa, David Miller has been picked ahead of Tristan Stubbs.
After winning the toss, the visitors` captain Markram said, “We`ll bowl first, hoping for dew later and a batting-friendly surface. The Ahmedabad pitch looks good, and we aim to chase down a target. There`s a lot at stake, not just for the series but also with the World Cup on the horizon. Our focus is on finishing the tour positively and levelling the series. George Linde comes in for Anrich Nortje, adding spin to our attack”.
Having a lead of 2-1 in the five-match T20I series, the “Men in Blue” under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav will be aiming to secure a win to clinch the series. On the other hand, the Proteas will be looking to secure a draw by winning the clash in Ahmedabad.
On the other hand, the hosts` captain Suryakumar said, “We were keen to bat first, given the wicket`s promising look. The pitch should hold up well, with minimal dew expected later, so we plan to stack up runs and defend them. The Narendra Modi Stadium is an incredible venue, with an electric atmosphere even when it`s not fully packed. We`re focused on playing fearless cricket and expressing ourselves, rather than just thinking about the series. Our team combination has a couple of changes, with Bumrah in for Harshit and Washington replacing Kuldeep”.
The series serves as a preparatory contest for both teams ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.
IND vs SA 5th T20I: Confirmed Playing XI
India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (C), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.
