IND vs SA: India eye T20 series win as South Africa aim to draw level!

India, holding a 2–1 advantage in the five-match T20I series against South Africa, will aim to clinch the series at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday. A victory would mark India’s 14th straight T20I series triumph. The contest follows the unusual abandonment of the fourth T20I in Lucknow, which was called off without a toss due to persistent fog, despite both teams warming up at the venue.

The fifth T20I is scheduled for December 19, 2025, with the match set to begin at 7:00 PM IST in Ahmedabad. India are expected to field a strong XI led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, alongside key players such as Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh. With the T20 World Cup approaching next year, attention will be firmly on Suryakumar, whose leadership record remains impressive despite recent struggles with the bat.

South Africa, who can still draw the series with a win, are likely to rely on their experienced core featuring Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, David Miller and Marco Jansen. De Kock will be a key player to watch, especially on a batting-friendly surface, after his explosive knock earlier in the series. In T20I head-to-heads, India lead South Africa with 20 wins from 35 matches, while South Africa have secured 13 victories.