After a whitewash in the Test series, Team India bounced back strongly with ODI and T20I series victories against South Africa, capping the comeback with a dominant 30-run win in the fifth and final T20I at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday to clinch the series 3-1.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, South Africa captain Aiden Markram went against the recent trend of teams preferring to bat first — a decision that backfired as India’s batters put on a brutal display. Apart from Lungi Ngidi, the South African pacers struggled for control, conceding heavily as the innings progressed.
Sanju Samson, returning to the Playing XI after a brief absence, looked fluent from the outset and set the platform at the top. The innings truly took shape through Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya, who stitched together a decisive partnership to take the game away from the visitors. Tilak continued his consistent run with another well-compiled half-century, while Pandya produced a breathtaking knock, mixing power with timing to propel India to a formidable 231/5. George Linde impressed for most of his spell but leaked runs in the final over as India finished with a flourish.
Chasing a daunting target of 232, South Africa began positively through Quinton de Kock, who took on Arshdeep Singh early. Washington Sundar kept things tight at the other end, while Reeza Hendricks struggled to find momentum and eventually fell to the in-form Varun Chakravarthy.
The promotion of Dewald Brevis to No. 3 briefly swung momentum South Africa’s way. Brevis matched de Kock shot for shot as the Proteas surged to 118/1 at the halfway stage and looked well placed to chase down the target. However, a brief break in play and a change of ball altered the course of the match. Jasprit Bumrah broke the crucial partnership, and Pandya followed it up by removing the other set batter, tilting the contest firmly back in India’s favour.
South Africa’s hopes of a late revival rested on skipper Markram and experienced campaigner David Miller, but Markram fell attempting an audacious stroke, and Chakravarthy struck again on the very next delivery by dismissing Donovan Ferreira. Despite their intent to keep pushing, wickets fell at regular intervals, and the chase eventually proved a step too far for the lower order.
India’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure through the death overs to close out the contest, sealing both the match and the series. The result brought an end to a memorable all-format tour, with India asserting their dominance in white-ball cricket despite South Africa having the upper hand in the Test series earlier.
The victory also came with individual honours for India’s standout performers. Hardik Pandya was deservingly named Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round contribution, scoring a match-defining 63 with the bat and returning figures of 1/41 with the ball. Indian mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy was adjudged Player of the Series after a stellar campaign, signing off with a four-wicket haul in the final T20I and consistently breaking key partnerships throughout the series.
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