India Wins T20 Series 3-1 Over South Africa

India secured a commanding 30-run victory over South Africa in the fifth and final T20 International at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on December 19, 2025, clinching the series 3-1 behind a blistering all-round performance from Hardik Pandya.

Batting first after losing the toss, India posted 231 for five in their 20 overs on a batsman-friendly pitch. Pandya, returning from a two-month quadriceps injury, ignited the innings in the 13th over with an aggressive 63 off 25 balls, including five fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 252. His half-century arrived in just 16 balls, the second-fastest by an Indian in T20Is, behind only Yuvraj Singh's 12-ball effort against England in 2007. Pandya's knock propelled him past 2,000 runs in T20Is while already holding 100 wickets, making him the first Indian fast-bowling all-rounder to achieve the double and the fifth overall in men's T20I history.

Pandya shared a crucial 105-run partnership off 44 balls with Tilak Varma, who scored 73 off 42 with 10 fours and a six. Earlier contributions from Sanju Samson (37) and Abhishek Sharma (34) laid a solid foundation. Pandya's explosive start set the tone: facing Corbin Bosch on his first...