IND vs SA | South Africa eye one last hurrah to end marathon tour by drawing level in T20I series

Today at 4:43 PM

A series with shifting initiatives has reached its decisive point in Ahmedabad. India and South Africa go into the final T20I in different states of mind and with different levels of confidence, with the series up for grabs for the hosts and a chance to end a marathon tour positive for the visitors.

The fifth T20I match between India and South Africa will take place on 19 December at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and will be the decisive match of the series. The match on 17 December was cancelled without a single ball played due to weather conditions, which only added to the tension ahead of the final match.

The series has already provided a contrasting picture. We have seen dominant victories with large margins, sharp failures and a change of initiative from match to match. In the T20I format, where a single powerplay or one unsuccessful over can turn an innings around, this match becomes the point where current form decides the outcome. Home conditions, the pressure of the result and fatigue after a busy schedule all create a complex context before the start of the game.

Form Guide

The Indian team is in a more stable condition. Over the past few weeks, it has shown that it is capable of quickly adapting to its opponent and changing its approach to run-scoring. There were matches where the result was decided in the first innings, as well as matches where they had to catch up, but overall, the balance between the top order and the bowling unit looked good. The victory in the last match of the series adds confidence ahead of the final.

South Africa's form looks less impressive. The team often lost the early stages of matches, which in T20I almost always affected the result. Problems arose both when defence totals and when chased in the second innings. The only victory in the series showed potential, but they failed to build on their success, and the pressure ahead of the decisive match is noticeably higher.

India: W NR W L W

South Africa: L L L W L

India vs South Africa Head-to-Head

The rivalry between the teams has always been fiercely contested. If we look at recent years, the matches have mostly been played without a clear favourite. The series have fluctuated, with big wins alternated with confident responses. India has been slightly more successful at home, while South Africa has traditionally been dangerous due to its aggressive approach in the short format.

India 20-13 South Africa

Pitch and Weather

The Narendra Modi Stadium pitch usually offers a smooth bounce and good batting conditions, especially in the first half of the innings. Dew often appears in the evening, which makes it difficult for bowlers to control the ball in the second innings.

The weather on 19 December is expected to be dry and cool by local standards, with no threat of rain. The temperature will drop towards the evening, which will increase the dew factor. In such conditions, captains usually prefer to bowl first after winning the toss in order to take advantage of the better conditions for run-scoring when chasing.

Team News

The Indian team has not suffered any serious losses ahead of the final match. After the cancelled game, the players have an extra day to recover, which is especially important for the fast-bowling group. The line-up looks balanced, with sufficient batting depth and variety in the middle overs.

The South African team is also going in without any changes. In previous matches in the series, there were difficulties with the transition from powerplay to middle overs, which led to wicket losses. The bowling unit remains a strong point, but it has often lacked defence of totals.

India (probable): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Jitesh Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

South Africa (probable): Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Anrich Nortje, Ottneil Baartman

Broadcasting Platforms

The India vs South Africa match, 5th T20I, will be available to watch on official television and digital platforms that broadcast international cricket in the region, which includes online streaming and mobile apps of the series' broadcasters.