That’s it from this space, folks! We hope you enjoyed our coverage of the game and the entire South Africa tour of India. With a 3-1 series win, India now move on to their next assignment - hosting New Zealand for a series of three ODIs and five T20Is, starting January 11.

And don’t forget, we have an India vs Pakistan final coming up in the Under-19 Asia Cup 2025. The match takes place on Sunday, December 21. Do join us for that contest as well. Goodbye!

India have won the game by 30 runs. And with it, they also clinch the five-match series 3-1. After losing the Test series to the Proteas 0-2, India have made a good comeback to win the ODI and T20I series.

South Africa need 47 runs from 12 balls. They are eight down, and the match has already slipped out of their hands. India just need a couple of wickets to seal a 3-1 series win - or simply bowl decently for the next two overs to cross the victory line.

SA 185-8 (18)

Marco Jansen is OUT! This could be the game for India. The wicket came through a superb review from the hosts. Jasprit Bumrah bowled a fuller delivery outside off-stump, and Jansen edged it to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson. The umpire was unconvinced, but Samson persuaded his captain to go upstairs - only to find that Jansen had indeed nicked the ball.

SA 177-8 (16.1)

Varun Chakravarthy picked up a wicket in his last over but ended up conceding 21 runs. This over has revived the chase for seven-down South Africa. They now need 55 runs from 24 balls - a target that looks achievable if Marco Jansen stays till the end.

SA 177-7 (16)

Varun Chakravarthy has cleaned up George Linde. It was a googly and the batter was completely outplayed as he tried to go for a big one and missed it. South Africa need 69 runs in 28 balls.

SA 163-7 (15.2)

Arshdeep Singh has got the wicket of David Miller. It was a good length ball that bounced a bit extra off the surface and that saw the southpaw get a top edge on it. The ball went really high in the air and wicketkeeper Sanju Samson took the catch behind the stumps.

Miller c Samson b Arshdeep Singh 18(14)

SA 154-6 (14.4)

Varun Chakravarthy cleaned up Donovan Ferreira on the batter’s very first ball but missed out on a hat-trick. George Linde defended the hat-trick ball well. Varun’s over yielded six runs and two wickets.

SA 136-5 (13)

Yet another blow for South Africa! Aiden Markram departs. He tried to play a lap shot off the bowling of Varun Chakravarthy but missed the ball and was struck on the front pad. The umpire raised his finger after the LBW appeal, and Markram reviewed it, only to find that the ball was hitting the stumps and the impact was on umpire’s call.

Markram lbw b Varun Chakaravarthy 6(4 

SA 135-4 (12.3)

The third wicket goes down! And it’s of Dewald Brevis. Hardik Pandya bowled a short and slow delivery, and Brevis mistimed his pull shot into the hands of the deep mid-wicket fielder. South Africa are in some trouble here.

Brevis c Washington Sundar b Hardik Pandya 31(17)

SA 122-3 (11.1)

Jasprit Bumrah has taken a return catch on his bowling to dismiss Quinton de Kock. The slower ball did the trick as de Kock ended up playing it back to the bowler. That is a really big wicket for India. They are back in the game. South Africa need 112 runs in 58 balls.

SA 120-2 (10.2)

This over from Hardik Pandya has put South Africa in control. The Indian all-rounder was smashed for three fours and a six. A total of 19 runs came off it. South Africa have got 42 off the last two oves. The are on the move. The Proteas need 114 runs in 60 balls.

SA 118-1 (10)

A single and Quinton de Kock slams his half-century in 30 balls. He started all guns blazing and kept firing from one end, providing South Africa a flying start in the big chase of 232 runs. The Proteas are 76 for 1 in 8 overs.

India have got a much-needed breakthrough here! Varun Chakravarthy is the man who provides the wicket. He bowled a googly to Reeza Hendricks and the batter played it to the right of Shivam Dube at mid-wicket. Dube ran to his left and took a good one-handed catch. South Africa need 163 runs in 81 balls.

SA 69-1 (6.3)

Washington Sundar has bowled a superb final over of powerplay. South Africa needed to make it big, but the spinner managed to keep their openers in check with some fine display of tight bowling. Only eight runs came off the over.

SA 67-0 (6)

Just one poor delivery, otherwise it was a tight over from Jasprit Bumrah. He bowled a wide down the leg side that ran away for a four. Apart from that, Bumrah gave away just three singles in it.

SA 60-0 (5)

Nine runs come off the second over from Washington Sundar. Quinton de Kock smashed him for a stunning six on the third ball, but the spinner made a good comeback to ensure he didn’t leak too many runs in the over.

SA 52-0 (4)

23 runs came off the second over of Arshdeep Singh. He bowled poor lines and Quinton de Kock smashed the pacer for three fours and one six. The southpaw has moved to 34 off 14 balls, smashing seven boundaries.

SA 43-0 (3)

Here is the first one of the night for South Africa! Arshdeep Singh bowls it fuller outside off-stump and Quinton de Kock smashes it away for a SIX over long-off. The ball travels a distance of 81 metres.

SA 26-0 (2.1)

Arshdeep Singh has leaked 12 runs in the first over! Quinton de Kock smashed him for a hat-trick of fours - the first lofted over mid-on, the second pulled away off a short ball, and the third carved through extra cover. South Africa off to a flying start in their chase of 232!

SA 12-0 (1)

Arshdeep Singh starts with a fuller delivery to Quinton de Kock, which had a hint of away swing. The southpaw drove it straight to mid-off. South Africa’s chase of 232 against India is underway!

Tilak Varma was run out on the fifth ball, and Shivam Dube then ended India's innings with a four towards cow corner. 17 came off the final over from Ottneil Baartman. India have posted a mammoth total on the board.

IND 231-5 (20)

That’s the end of a stunning knock from Hardik Pandya! Ottneil Baartman bowled a low full toss, and Hardik tried a short-arm jab but couldn’t clear the mid-wicket fielder. He departs after stitching a brilliant 105-run partnership with Tilak Varma for the fourth wicket.

Hardik Pandya c Reeza Hendricks b Ottneil Baartman 63(25)

IND 220-4 (19.3)

Lungi Ngidi concedes 10 runs in his final over. He couldn’t pick up a wicket but finishes his spell with impressive figures - 4 overs for just 29 runs. A terrific effort amid the carnage! India have two overs left in the innings.

IND 205-3 (18)

A SIX over deep mid-wicket and Hardik Pandya races to his FIFTY in just 16 balls! This has been an unbelievable knock from the Indian all-rounder—four fours and five sixes so far. An incredible innings! This is also the second-fastest fifty for India in T20Is.

IND 195-3 (16.5)

Amid the run-fest, Marco Jansen delivered a tidy eight-run over. He executed his slower balls brilliantly, keeping them away from the batters’ reach. India look set to cross 200 and could even target something around 220 from here.

A FOUR and Tilak Varma slams his fifty in 30 balls. What a knock this has been from the southpaw! He kept holding one end tight, and never let his strike rate become a concern with timely boundaries. India are 166/3 in 14.4 overs vs South Africa.

Hardik Pandya went berserk in the 14th over! George Linde was on the receiving end as the over leaked 27 runs. Tilak Varma began with a SIX before giving strike to Hardik, who smashed two FOURS and two SIXES to make it a massive over.

IND 158-3 (14)

12.1 - Suryakumar Yadav is GONE! His lean patch in T20I cricket continues. The right-hander tried to loft it over mid-off but couldn’t clear the fielder. He departs for 5 off 7 balls. India are now three down.

Suryakumar Yadav c Miller b Corbin Bosch 5(7)

Ottneil Baartman concedes eight runs in the over. Tilak Varma smashed a four off the very first ball and keeps the scoreboard ticking, regardless of what’s happening at the other end. This is exactly what you expect from him.

IND 109-2 (11)

That was a really good over from George Linde. He conceded just four singles and claimed the wicket of the set batter, Sanju Samson. However, India still look on track to post a total above 200.

IND 101-2 (10)

Wow! That’s a peach from George Linde to dismiss Sanju Samson. The ball pitched around middle and leg, Samson played for the line, but it spun sharply and crashed into middle stump. India are two down.

Samson b Linde 37(22) 

IND 97-2 (9.1)

The match resumed after an injury break. India managed two singles off the remaining deliveries. A total of 12 runs came from Donovan Ferreira’s over, thanks to Tilak Varma smashing two consecutive fours off the first two balls.

IND 97-1 (9)

8.4 - Umpire Rohan Pandit is down! That was smashed really hard from Sanju Samson, and the ball burst through the hands of bowler Donovan Ferreira and hit Rohan on his right knee, injuring him badly. He is in a lot of pain. The physio is checking the umpire.

That goes over the fence for a SIX! Sanju Samson created room by shuffling to the leg side. George Linde tried to follow him and ended up bowling a fuller one onto his pads. Samson smashed it over cow corner for a maximum.

IND 85-1 (8)

Donovan Ferreira came up with the first over of spin in this innings. He leaked nine runs. Tilak Varma hit a four to the spinner through fine leg. 

IND 76-1 (7)

Abhishek Sharma is GONE! A short ball from Corbin Bosch down the leg side brushed Abhishek’s glove before being taken by the wicketkeeper. The umpire raised his finger after an appeal, and the batter reviewed it - only to waste one.

IND 63-1 (5.4)

Sanju Samson reached the mark of 1000 T20I runs during his ongoing innings. He achieved the feat in 679 balls. Samson stands at the joint third spot among Indians with fewest balls to reach this milestone.

Abhishek Sharma (528) tops the list, followed by Suryakumar Yadav (573). Samson has equalled the mark of Hardik Pandya.

This has been some sensational attack from India's opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. The duo has scored 56, with still 6 balls left in the first powerplay. 15 runs came off this over from Marco Jansen.

IND 56-0 (5)

It was a fuller ball, wide of the off-stump, from Lungi Ngidi. Sanju Samson threw his bat at it and managed an outside edge. Luckily for him, the ball flew right through the gap between first slip and short third for a four.

IND 41-0 (4)

The play resumed as de Kock seemed resolute to continue in his role of wicketkeeper after some treatment. This turned out to be a reallly good over from Ngidi as only two runs came off it.

IND 27-0 (3)

2.5 - Quinton de Kock is down with an injury! The South Africa wicketkeeper was hit on the tip of his fingers on the very first ball of the innings, and he has been hit again. The physio is checking him.

This is what Sanju Samson could do! It was a fuller ball from Marco Jansen on the stumps and Samson nonchalantly flicked it away for a SIX. That went for 78 metres to wide of long-on. Terrific shot! A total of 19 runs came off this over.

IND 25-0 (2)

The fifth and final T20I match between India and South Africa is underway in Ahmedabad. Sanju Samson got off to a nervy start in the first over. He was beaten by Lungi Ngidi twice through outswinging deliveries before hitting one on the off-side for a single.

On the other hand, Abhishek, as usual, got off the mark with a boundary. A total of six runs came off the first over

IND 6-0 (1)

Well, Sanju Samson has finally been brought back in India's Playing XI. There was widespread criticism when the player was pushed down the order upon the arrival of Shubman Gill, and was even dropped from the XI later on. Tonight Samson has the best opportunity to showcase his potential once again. His performance will be in focus.

"We were looking to bat first. The wicket looks good, there won't be dew and we want to put runs on the board. It (the stadium) almost feels full. Let's see what we want from this game, yes the series is on the line, but it is about expressing yourself and enjoying the game. Bumrah comes in for Harshit, Washi comes in for Kuldeep and Gill picked up a niggle in Lucknow, so Sanju comes in," said India captain Suryakumar Yadav.

"We are going to bowl first. The wicket looks quite dew, probably some dew later on and ball comes on better. There's everything to play for, focus is on the World Cup and we have quite a few games here. Quite a few good signs with the ball in hand, looking to finish the tour on a positive note. Linde comes in for Nortje," said South Africa captain Aiden Markram.

India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh

South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman

South Africa captain Aiden Markram has won the toss and opted to bowl first against India. Meanwhile, India captain Suryakumar Yadav informed at the toss that the host team has made a few changes to its Playing XI.

We are just a few minutes away from the toss for the fifth and final T20I between India and South Africa. This is the first time the two sides are playing a T20I match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The team that wins the toss would like to bowl first and chase under the dew.

Shubman Gill's availability for the fifth and final T20I between India and South Africa is uncertain. The player was set to miss the fourth game, which eventually got abandoned due to bad weather conditions in Lucknow. While Gill has travelled with the team to Ahmedabad, it is unclear whether he will play the game.

India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Sanju Samson (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Shahbaz Ahmed, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Ottneil Baartman, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla.

After three matches of action and one abandoned game, the India vs South Africa series stands at 2-1 in the host team's favour. The final contest takes place at Narendra Modi Stadium tonight. While India aim to clinch the series 3-1, the Proteas eye a 2-2 finish.