Defending champions India flexed their muscles in yet another T20I series, delivering a complete all-round performance in the high-scoring Ahmedabad finale to beat South Africa by 30 runs in the fifth and final match and clinch the series 3-1, ending 2025 on a high.
Defending a daunting 231, India weathered a brief scare before Jasprit Bumrah’s sensational, miserly four-over spell and Varun Chakravarthy’s four-wicket haul decisively checked South Africa’s charge. The win extended India’s remarkable run to 10 successive T20I series or tournament triumphs, while also sealing their eighth consecutive bilateral T20I series victory since December 2023.
IND vs SA 5th T20I: Highlights
South Africa began the chase of 232 emphatically, with Quinton de Kock setting the tone immediately. The left-hander opened Arshdeep Singh’s first over with three crisp boundaries, prompting India to turn to Washington Sundar as early as the second. It made little difference as the visitors raced to 20 without loss after two overs.
De Kock continued to target Arshdeep, surging to 34 off 14 balls as six fours came off the seamer’s first two overs. By the end of the third, South Africa were 43 for no loss, the asking rate kept firmly in check through aggression. The momentum slowed once the power play eased. Reeza Hendricks’ difficult tour ended with Varun Chakravarthy’s introduction in the seventh over. With just 21 runs from 22 balls across three innings, Hendricks fell again, his place under growing scrutiny ahead of a T20 World Cup set to be played in Indian conditions. South Africa slipped to 70 for one, with Dewald Brevis promoted.
Washington Sundar’s new-ball spell proved quietly effective. Bowling through the powerplay, he conceded just 30 from four overs, ensuring the chase never gathered dangerous early momentum. In his 100th T20 international, de Kock continued to carry the chase. He struck the shot of the evening in the eighth over, launching Varun straight for six before reverse-sweeping him for four. Varun then endured a torrid ninth over, overpitching twice as Brevis joined the assault — his joint-worst over in T20Is. After nine, South Africa were 99 for one, with de Kock on 61 from 33.
Hardik Pandya’s first over went for plenty, and South Africa plundered 42 runs across the ninth and tenth to reach 118 for one at the drinks break. With 114 needed from the last 10 overs and Jasprit Bumrah holding three in reserve, the contest remained finely balanced. A ball change for excessive wetness briefly aided India, despite assurances dew would not be a factor.
The turning point arrived with Bumrah’s return. Against the run of play, de Kock mistimed a fuller slower offcutter and drove it straight back at the bowler, who reacted sharply to complete the catch. De Kock’s superb 65 off 36 ended, taking with it South Africa’s best chance of an unlikely chase.
Hardik followed up with a smart spell, relying on slower balls and the large square boundaries. After being hit for six, he denied Brevis pace and length, inducing a miscued pull to deep midwicket. South Africa slipped to 122 for three, and India seized control.
The collapse accelerated with the now-drier ball. Aiden Markram fell to the umpire’s call on the lap sweep before Varun beat Donovon Ferreira with a near-identical delivery to knock over off stump. Four wickets fell for 15 runs in three overs.
Arshdeep Singh tightened the vice further, denying length and finding the fielder on the pull. David Miller’s desperate slog ballooned to the wicketkeeper, leaving South Africa 156 for six after 15.
Varun returned to complete a decisive spell, bowling George Linde with a sharply turning googly to finish with four wickets and all but seal the contest. Marco Jansen briefly threatened a late twist with consecutive sixes, cutting the equation to 55 off four overs, but Bumrah shut the door. A slower ball found Jansen’s edge, confirmed on review after the bat brushed the turf, and India were nearly home.
HARDIK ENTERTAINS AHMEDABAD
Earlier, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma lit up the Narendra Modi Stadium with a commanding display of strokeplay, propelling India to a formidable 232 for five and setting South Africa an intimidating target on a night dominated by the bat. What began as a promising innings was turned into a statement total by a blistering fourth-wicket partnership that left the visitors scrambling for answers.
Hardik was the chief destroyer. Walking in with India searching for momentum after another difficult outing for captain Suryakumar Yadav, the all-rounder seized control immediately. Greeted by loud chants at his former IPL home, Pandya responded emphatically, racing to a 16-ball half-century — the second-fastest by an Indian in T20 internationals, bettered only by Yuvraj Singh’s iconic 12-ball effort against England in 2007. His 63 came off just 25 balls and was built on raw power, with five sixes and as many fours launched deep into the vast stands.
The force of Pandya’s hitting stood out even by T20 standards. Length balls were dispatched with disdain, anything marginally short was pulled into the crowd, and even good deliveries were muscled over the infield. The ball repeatedly sailed 10 rows back as fielders could only watch.
At the other end, Tilak provided composure and continuity. The left-hander produced another polished innings, scoring 73 off 42 balls with 10 fours and a six, blending aggression with intelligent strike rotation. It was his second half-century of the series and another reminder of his growing assurance at international level. Together, Pandya and Tilak added 105 runs in just 44 balls for the fourth wicket, decisively swinging the contest after the run rate had briefly dipped.
India’s strong finish was built on a lively start from Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, who attacked from the outset in the powerplay. The opening pair put on 63 runs without restraint, forcing the bowlers onto the defensive. Abhishek’s 34 set the tone, while Samson, handed a rare opportunity to open in the absence of the injured Shubman Gill, ensured India maintained early momentum.
Playing his first match for India since the Asia Cup in September, Samson produced an entertaining 37 off 22 balls, striking four boundaries and a six. He announced his intent with a towering hit over wide long-on off Marco Jansen and followed it with clean, straight blows against Ottneil Baartman. For a brief period, he appeared set to turn the opportunity into a strong case ahead of the World Cup selection meeting in Mumbai.
As has often been the case, Samson’s innings ended just as it was gathering substance. He was undone by a fine delivery from George Linde that pitched on leg stump, gripped sharply and beat the bat to crash into middle stump. Earlier, Samson had enjoyed a slice of fortune when a powerful drive burst through Donovan Ferreira’s hands and struck umpire Rohan Pandit near the knee roll.
– Ends
