India and South Africa clashed in the fifth and final T20I of the series at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on December 19, 2025. The series stands at 2-1 in favor of India. Suryakumar Yadav lost the toss, and Aiden Markram opted to bowl first under lights.

India made three changes in their lineup, with Jasprit Bumrah coming in for Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar replacing Kuldeep Yadav, and Shubman Gill, who suffered a toe injury, being replaced by Sanju Samson.

Indian batters showed intent right from the get-go, with Abhishek Sharma slamming 34 in 21 balls and Sanju Samson making 37 in 22 balls. Suryakumar Yadav’s poor form continued as he perished for 5 runs.

But then Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya got together and added 105 runs in just 44 balls, hammering Proteas bowlers to all parts of the Ahmedabad stadium. Tilak Varma made 73 in 42 balls with 10 fours and one six.

Hardik Pandya was more brutal with the bat, reaching his half-century in just 16 balls, hitting the second-fastest fifty in T20Is by an Indian. He made 63 runs in 25 balls with five fours and as many sixes to his name, as India finished on 231/5 in 20 overs.

Hardik was constantly attempting to send the ball out of the park, and he struck two sixes and a boundary off Bosch to reach his milestone.

Soon after, he raised his bat and blew kisses towards his girlfriend, Mahieka Sharma, who was ecstatic at the performance. Hardik and Mahieka started dating earlier this year.

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Hardik Pandya’s 16-ball fifty went past Abhishek Sharma’s 17-ball effort and is now the second-fastest fifty in T20Is by an Indian. The record for the fastest fifty in T20Is by an Indian is held by Yuvraj Singh, who reached the landmark in just 12 balls against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup in Durban.

Hardik Pandya also completed his 2000 runs in T20Is and became the fifth all-rounder with 2000-plus runs and 100-plus wickets.