#INDvSA-5thT20I-2025 : Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Varun Chakaravarthy Dazzle As India Beat South Africa By 30-Runs To Seal Series 3-1

Picture : BCCI/X

With the fourth T20I abandoned due to fog at Lucknow and India 2-1 ahead in the five- match series, the pressue was on South Africa to level the series at the Narendra Modi stadium , Ahmedabad in the fifth and final T20I . But India  dashed the Proteas hopes with a  convincing 30- run win in a run feast encouner to clinch the series  3-1.

South Africa Skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and optred to bowl first. And Indian batting line-up made him pay for the move. India posted a mammoth  231/5 in their alloted 20 overs . Shubman Gill sat out due to injury and Sanju Samson opened with Abhishek  Sharma. The duo gave India  a quick start 63/1 in 5. 4 overs. Abhishek first out for 34  ( 21 balls , 6 fours, 1 six), Sanju scored 37 ( 22 balls , 2 fours , 2 sixes) . Skipper  Suryakumar Yadav’s horror run of form continued with yet another failure out for mere 5.

The Indian innings gained the impetus thanks  to a fine innings from Tilak Varma 73 ( 42 balls, 10 fours 1 six) and a blazing   knock by all- rounder Hardik Pandya 63 ( 25 balls, 5 fours, 5 sixes). Shivam Dube not out 10 and Jitesh Sharma not out 3 ensured India finished strongly and did notlose any further wickets

South Afria Bowling : Lungi Ngidi 0/29 ( 4 overs), Marco Jansen 0/50 ( 4 overs),  Ottneil Baartman 1/39 ( 3 overs), Corbin Bosch 2/44 ( 3 overs), Donovan Ferreira 0/20 ( 2 overs) , George Linde1/46 ( 4 overs)

In reply to the big target South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals and that dented their chase . Opener Reeza Hendricks ( 13) first to go at the total of 69/1 in 6. 3 overs. Quinton de Kock played yet another fine innings of 65  ( 35 balls, 9 fours, 3 sixes) . The rest did not fire when needed  Dewald Brevis ( 31 ), David Miller ( 18) , Skipper Aiden Markram flopped out for ( 6) , Donovan Ferreira ( 0), George Linde ( 16), Marco Jansen ( 14) .

The chase was bit too much at the end for the Proteas,  Corbin Bosch not out 17 and Lungi Ngidi not out 7  were there till the end as South Afica could manage 201/8 in their 20 overs.

India Bowling  was spot on as they bagged wickets  regularly : Jasprit Bumrah 2/27 ( 4 overs), Arshdeep Singh 1/47 ( 4 overs), Washington Sundar 0/30 ( 4 overs), Varun Chakaravarthy 4/53 ( 4 overs), Hardik Pandya 1/41 ( 3 overs) , Abhishek Sharma 0/13 ( 1 over)

Match: 5th T20I
Venue: Ahmedabad | Date: Dec 19, 2025