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Pandya blitz and Varun, Bumrah magic lead India to dominant T20I series win vs SA

Mayank

India defeated SA in decider [Source: AFP]India defeated SA in decider [Source: AFP]

India and South Africa met in Ahmedabad for the fifth and final T20I of the five-match series, as they continue their final stretch of preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Heading into the match, India led the series by 2-1, with the Lucknow game being called off due to the smog issues.

As South Africa looked to finish the tour of India with a tied T20I series, here's how the match unravelled at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Samson-Abhishek duo picks up from where they left off

Sanju Samson returned to his preferred batting position at the top of the order, citing a niggle in Shubman Gill's foot, and his partnership with Abhishek Sharma got going like they never separated. They completed their fifty-run partnership in just 4.4 overs, courtesy of some aesthetically pleasing shots from Samson and explosive boundaries from Abhishek.

India scored 67/1 in the powerplay, out of which 63 were scored by the openers. Abhishek got 34(21) with six fours and a six before he gloved a Corbin Bosch bouncer to Quinton de Kock. The right-hander continued, scoring 37(22) before getting done by a peach from George Linde in the 9th over.

Pandya and Tilak onslaught leaves the Proteas clueless

India lost captain Suryakumar Yadav for another underwhelming 5(7), as he finished 2025 without any fifties to his name. However, this did not affect Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya, who added a whopping 105(44) for the 4th wicket and took India to a score of 231/5. The latter ended up scoring the second-quickest T20I fifty for India, reaching the milestone in just 16 balls.

Pandya finished the innings with 63(25), with five fours and five sixes, and Tilak, who had the best seat in the house for that knock, scored a brilliant 73(42). For the visitors, Bosch was the pick of the bowlers with 2/44 (3).

De Kock gives visitors a perfect start

Days after returning to the Mumbai Indians camp, de Kock decided to cause trouble for India early on in the run chase and scored a 30-ball-50, taking on the dangerous Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy. He lost his partner Reeza Hendricks early in the innings, but Dewald Brevis was promoted to number 3, and he attacked Varun, followed by Pandya, and guided his team to 118/1 at the halfway stage.

India bounce back to seal the T20I series

Right after the drinks break at the 10 over mark, Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with a match-turning caught and bowled of the well set de Kock, who walked back with 65(35), with 9 fours and three sixes. 

After conceding 19 runs in his previous over, Pandya came back and got rid of the dangerous Brevis at 31(17) in the next over before Varun Chakravarthy ran through the middle order, dismissing captain Aiden Markram and Donovan Ferreira on consecutive deliveries. The spinner finished his spell with 4/53 (4).

Bumrah picked 2/17 (4) and SA only managed 201/8 in their 20 overs. The hosts seal the series, with a 30-run win. This 3-1 series result end India's 2025 with back-to-back white-ball series wins against the Proteas. 

Up next, they will face New Zealand in three ODIs and five T20Is from January 11. On the other hand, SA go on a month-long break before their next series against West Indies at home.