India’s Arshdeep Singh with team players celebrate the wicket of South Africa’s Batsman during the 5th and Final T20 Cricket Match between India and South Africa at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on Friday, December 19, 2025.
| Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI
South Africa may have started its tour to India with two famous Test victories, but the home team ensured that there would not be a bright end to the visit.
In the fifth and final T20I here on Friday, India pulled out all the stops to record a thumping 30-run win and a 3-1 series triumph.
The night was set alight by a quick-fire knock from Hardik Pandya before spinner Varun Chakravarthy (4/53) pulled the rug from under the South African chase.
After being put in, a fine batting performance powered India to 231 for five.
Perfect approach
Hardik (63, 25b, 5×4, 5×6) exemplified the perfect T20 approach, going after the bowling with real intent.
There was a dip in momentum as an uncomfortable Suryakumar Yadav (5, 7b) failed to get going once again.
The five T20Is against New Zealand next month gives the skipper the last chance to get into the groove ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup.
Order was restored when Hardik came in at No. 5. An expansive drive for six off the very first ball he faced showed his destructive mood.
By the time Hardik holed out in the last over, he had taken India well past the 200-run mark.
The crowd stood up in unison to applaud him — quite the turnaround from the hostile reception he encountered at this very venue when he shifted allegiance from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024.
Hardik pulled India forward in the company of Tilak Varma (73, 42b, 10×4, 1×6). The duo’s 105-run fourth-wicket stand came off 44 balls, with the latter nearly matching former in intent.
Breezy opening stand
Sanju Samson (37, 22b, 4×4, 2×6), drafted in to replace an injured Shubman Gill, gave India a superb start with Abhishek Sharma (34, 21b, 6×4, 1×6).
The PowerPlay was filled with aerial shots and high tempo. Samson’s inclusion seemed to give India added fluency, oftentimes missing with Gill’s recent dip in form.
South Africa stayed on track thanks to an enterprising 35-ball 65 from opener Quinton de Kock. The visitor threatened to steal it midway through the chase at 118 for one.
Big breakthrough
Jasprit Bumrah, as he has done so many times in the past, delivered when India needed a breakthrough. Brought back into the attack, Bumrah deceived de Kock with a slower one, which was lobbed back to the bowler.
Hardik followed up with a slower bouncer in the next over to take out Dewald Brevis.
Varun then delivered the hammer blow, catching Aiden Markram on the pads and cleaning up Donovan Ferreira in a decisive 13th over.
In a matter of three overs, South Africa crashed to 135 for five. A miserly 17th over, where Bumrah conceded two runs, shut South Africa out of the contest.
Published – December 19, 2025 07:01 pm IST
