IND vs SA 5th T20I: India beat South Africa by 30 runs to clinch series by 3-1

Defending champions India flexed their muscles once again, producing a complete all-round display in the high-scoring Ahmedabad finale to beat South Africa by 30 runs in the fifth and final T20I and clinch the series 3-1, ending 2025 on a high. Chasing 232 in heavy dew, Quinton de Kock and Dewald Brevis powered South Africa to 118 for 1 after 10 overs, but the contest turned sharply once the drier ball came into play.

Jasprit Bumrah led the fightback with a miserly spell of 4-0-17-2, while Varun Chakravarthy's four-wicket haul saw India snatch four wickets for 15 runs and derail the chase. After posting a mammoth 231 for 5, India restricted the visitors to 201 for 8, extending their run to 10 successive T20I series or tournament wins and sealing an eighth straight bilateral T20I series victory since December 2023.

South Africa had begun the chase emphatically, with de Kock setting the tone from the outset. The left-hander opened Arshdeep Singh's first over with three crisp boundaries, forcing India to turn to Washington Sundar as early as the second. It did little to stem the momentum as the visitors raced to 20 without loss after two overs.

De Kock continued to take on Arshdeep, surging to 34 off just 14 balls as six fours came off the seamer's first two overs. By the end of the third, South Africa were 43 for no loss, keeping the asking rate firmly in check through sustained aggression. The momentum, however, slowed once the powerplay eased. Reeza Hendricks' difficult tour ended with Varun Chakravarthy's introduction in the seventh over. Having managed just 21 runs off 22 balls across three innings, Hendricks fell again, leaving his place under growing scrutiny ahead of a T20 World Cup set to be played in Indian conditions. South Africa slipped to 70 for one, with Dewald Brevis promoted up the order.

Washington Sundar’s new-ball spell proved quietly effective. Bowling through the powerplay, he conceded just 30 from four overs, ensuring the chase never gathered dangerous early momentum. In his 100th T20 international, de Kock continued to carry the chase. He struck the shot of the evening in the eighth over, launching Varun straight for six before



reverse-sweeping him for four. Varun then endured a torrid ninth over, overpitching twice as Brevis joined the assault — his joint-worst over in T20Is. After nine, South Africa were 99 for one, with de Kock on 61 from 33.

Hardik Pandya’s first over went for plenty, and South Africa plundered 42 runs across the ninth and tenth to reach 118 for one at the drinks break. With 114 needed from the last 10 overs and Jasprit Bumrah holding three in reserve, the contest remained finely balanced. A ball change for excessive wetness briefly aided India, despite assurances dew would not be a factor.

The turning point arrived with Bumrah’s return. Against the run of play, de Kock mistimed a fuller slower offcutter and drove it straight back at the bowler, who reacted sharply to complete the catch. De Kock’s superb 65 off 36 ended, taking with it South Africa’s best chance of an unlikely chase.

Hardik followed up with a smart spell, relying on slower balls and large square boundaries. After being hit for six, he denied Brevis pace and length, inducing a miscued pull to deep midwicket. South Africa slipped to 122 for three, and India seized control. The collapse accelerated with the now-drier ball. Aiden Markram fell to the umpire’s call on the lap sweep before Varun beat Donovon Ferreira with a near-identical delivery to knock over off stump. Four wickets fell for 15 runs in three overs.

Arshdeep Singh tightened the screw further, denying length and finding the fielder on the pull as David Miller's desperate slog ballooned to the wicketkeeper, leaving South Africa 156 for 6 after 15 overs. Varun Chakravarthy then returned to complete a decisive spell, bowling George Linde with a sharply turning googly to finish with four wickets and all but seal the contest.

Marco Jansen briefly threatened a late twist with consecutive sixes, cutting the equation to 55 off four overs, but Jasprit Bumrah shut the door. A well-disguised slower ball found Jansen's edge, confirmed on review after the bat brushed the turf, and India were effectively home. Bumrah claimed the final wicket of the night, Jansen's, in the 17th over as South Africa limped to 201 for 8.