The fifth and final T20I here on Friday presents India the chance to salvage a positive at the end of a testing South Africa visit to these shores.
The tour began with two calamitous Test defeats for India, followed by the home team taking a 2-1 win in the ODI leg.
Excessive fog at Lucknow on Wednesday meant that the T20Is stay alive, with India holding a 2-1 lead. There is unlikely to be any environmental disruptors at play at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The cricket will be back centre stage.
For India skipper Suryakumar Yadav, this outing gives the batter another chance to find some form. The team takes a break for a month before featuring in five T20Is against New Zealand, making every occasion vital for the likes of Suryakumar to get runs under the belt ahead of the ICC men’s T20 World Cup.
Shubman Gill, another player desperate to break out of a dip, is down with a foot injury. He may not partake in the proceedings on Friday, which leaves the door open for Kerala swashbuckler Sanju Samson to take his place at the top of the order.
South Africa’s Quinton De Kock and David Miller arrive at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport ahead of their fifth and final T20 International against India in Ahmedabad, scheduled for December 19, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
VIJAY SONEJI
Axar Patel has been ruled out due to an illness. His replacement, Shahbaz Ahmed, may have to warm the bench, given that Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav remain the lead spinners.
Hometown hero Jasprit Bumrah, who had flown home for personal reasons, could be back in action. In the interim, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana acquitted themselves well, bowling with venom in the third T20I at Dharamshala.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy group stage day matches held at this venue this month, batters held a slight edge. In this night encounter, taking dew into consideration, there should be more runs on offer.
Tilak Varma arrived at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport ahead of the fifth and final T20 nNternational between India and South Africa in Ahmedabad, scheduled for December 19, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
VIJAY SONEJI
The South Africans, meanwhile, have the goods to end this tour on a high. The visitor bats deep, with formidable power-hitting options available even in the lower order.
South Africa, thoroughly outclassed at Dharamshala, will welcome more batting-friendly conditions here.
India cannot lose the series, but if Aiden Markram’s men can draw level at 2-2, the South Africans will count this as a truly successful tour to India.
The squads (from): India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (Captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs.
Match starts at 7 p.m.
Published – December 18, 2025 07:36 pm IST