Hardik Pandya led India’s batting assault together with his 16-ball fifty to arrange a 30-run win over the Proteas within the fifth T20I and clinch the collection 3-1.
A punishing 105-run fourth partnership between Pandya, who hammered 63 off off 25 balls, and Tilak Varma (73) swept India to 231-5 on the world’s greatest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.
In reply, South Africa began strongly due to a 35-ball 65 by Quinton de Kock, who performed his one hundredth T20I, however the opener’s departure triggered a collapse and the Proteas ended on 201-8.
The win sealed India’s eighth consecutive T20I collection triumph, a streak that started in December 2023.
“From the beginning of the collection, we needed to stay to a specific model of cricket and we did precisely that,” stated India captain Suryakumar Yadav. “We needed to precise ourselves in all departments and the outcomes are proper there in entrance of everybody.”
HIGHLIGHTS: India vs Proteas (fifth T20I)
South Africa started the tour with a shocking 2-0 triumph within the Take a look at collection however the white-ball contests proved disappointing as additionally they misplaced the ODI collection 2-1.
Tempo bowler Jasprit Bumrah returned figures of 2-17 together with the important thing wicket of De Kock who chipped a yorker straight again to him.
Spinner Varun Chakravarthy took 4 wickets, bowling Donovan Ferreira and George Linde. He returned with 10 wickets in 4 matches to be named Man of the Sequence.
The collection was a part of the build-up for the T20 World Cup which begins in February in India and Sri Lanka.
Put in to bat after the fourth match was deserted because of fog in Lucknow, Indian openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma began briskly earlier than Pandya tore into the opposition assault.
Seam bowler Corbin Bosch reduce quick left-handed Abhishek’s knock on 34 and Samson fell for 37, bowled off left-arm spinner Linde.
India misplaced their third wicket when Suryakumar obtained out for 5 to increase his lean run with the bat.
T20 specialist Suryakumar has managed simply 244 runs throughout his final 22 innings on this format with no fifties.
“Solely factor is we couldn’t discover Surya the batter, I believe he’s lacking someplace,” stated Suryakumar. “However he’ll come again sturdy.”
Pandya walked in and smacked Bosch for a six to sign his intent with the bat and within the subsequent over hammered Linde for 2 sixes and two fours and was named Man of the Match.
The center-order batsman registered India’s second quickest T20I fifty, behind Yuvraj Singh’s report 12-ball half-century in 2007.
The left-handed Varma additionally impressed together with his clear hitting however Pandya’s carnage that included 5 fours and 5 sixes stole the present.
𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐬 💥
Hardik Pandya in the home 😎
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/kw4LKLNSl3#TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @hardikpandya7 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/UB2L43ogGz
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 19, 2025
Pandya lastly fell to Ottneil Baartman and Varma obtained run out on the penultimate ball however the pair helped India add 116 runs from the final eight overs.
Vice-captain Shubman Gill missed the match after he injured his proper foot whereas batting within the nets in Lucknow.
Within the Proteas’ chase, De Kock’s 51-run second-wicket partnership with Dewald Brevis, who made 31 off 17 balls, gave the Proteas hope however common wickets and a rising asking-rate proved an excessive amount of.
“230 was at all times gonna require a near-to-perfect chase,” stated Proteas captain Aiden Markram. “High three set it up, middle-order couldn’t take it ahead. However these classes may show to be very helpful looking forward to the World Cup.”
– AFP
Picture: BCCI
