India Seals 3-1 T20I Series Win Over South Africa with 30-Run Victory in 5th T20I | Pandya Blitz & Varun-Bumrah Magic! 🏏🔥
Hey Steemit cricket fans! ✋🤩
India wrapped up 2025 in style, clinching the T20I series 3-1 against South Africa with a dominant 30-run win in the 5th T20I at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. A massive 231/5 powered by Hardik Pandya's blitz and Tilak Varma's anchor, followed by a fightback bowling spell to restrict SA to 201/8. What a decider!
Explosive Batting: Pandya & Tilak Take Charge 💥
SA won the toss and bowled first. Openers Sanju Samson (37 off 22) and Abhishek Sharma (34 off 21) added a quick 50-run stand in 4.4 overs, setting a strong powerplay (67/1).
The game-changer : Tilak Varma (73 off 42) and Hardik Pandya (63 off 25 – 5 fours, 5 sixes, 16-ball fifty) smashed a blistering 105-run partnership in 44 balls for the 4th wicket. Pandya's second-quickest T20I fifty for India left SA clueless. Shivam Dube added late fireworks as India posted 231/5.
Bowlers Fight Back: Varun & Bumrah Turn the Tide 🏆
SA started strong with Quinton de Kock's fiery 65 off 35 (9 fours, 3 sixes – 30-ball fifty), reaching 118/1 at halfway. But Jasprit Bumrah broke through with a caught and bowled to dismiss de Kock post-drinks.
Varun Chakravarthy ran through the middle order with a match-turning 4/53, dismissing Aiden Markram and Donovan Ferreira consecutively. Hardik Pandya removed Dewald Brevis (31 off 17), and the death bowling sealed it despite late hits. SA finished 201/8.
Key Performers :
▪️ Hardik Pandya – Player of the Match contender (blazing fifty + key wicket)
▪️ Tilak Varma – Steady 73 to anchor
▪️ Varun Chakravarthy – 4-fer magic
▪️ Jasprit Bumrah – Crucial breakthroughs
As a Sri Lankan fan, loved the aggressive batting and spin-death combo.. pure T20 entertainment! ☝️😎
Poll : India's hero in the series decider?
⚪ Hardik Pandya (blitz fifty + one wicket)
⚪ Tilak Varma (73 anchor)
⚪ Varun Chakravarthy (4 wickets)
⚪ Jasprit Bumrah (death mastery)
Your thoughts? Great series win for India, or did SA push hard till the end? Predict 2026 T20 highlights! Drop comments below.. 🏏
Power Up 100% 🚀 Growing on Steemit together..!
Series Decider Review by @manish1992