With the series still tilted in India’s favour, the fourth T20I against South Africa in Lucknow was ruled out due to heavy fog that eventually led to lack of visibility.

Not a single ball could be bowled, forcing the contest to be abandoned and setting the stage for a thrilling decider in Ahmedabad, where the fifth and final T20I of the series will be played today.

After four games, India lead the five-match series 2-1. The Men in Blue have registered two victories, while South Africa emerged victorious in the second T20I, with one match ending in a no result.

India have largely stamped their authority in the shortest format, but the Proteas have shown resilience and firepower, particularly in their comprehensive win earlier in the series.

Should the visitors manage to bounce back in the series finale, the contest will end in a draw. However, Suryakumar Yadav and his men will be keen to finish strong and seal the series with a convincing performance.

Meanwhile, the fifth and final T20I will be hosted at the Gujarat Titans’ fortress, the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium, the largest cricket stadium in the world. Situated in Motera on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, the venue promises a mouthwatering contest between the two competitive sides.

The stadium has so far hosted seven T20I matches. The most recent encounter took place on February 1, 2023, when India registered a record-breaking 168-run victory over New Zealand.

The final T20I is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM IST.

Players to watch out for

Tilak Varma: India’s young batting sensation has been in outstanding form throughout the series. Tilak Varma is currently the leading run-scorer, having amassed 114 runs in three matches at an impressive average of 57 and a strike rate of 114.

Varun Chakravarthy: The mystery spinner has been one of India’s standout performers with the ball. With six wickets in three matches, Varun Chakravarthy is the highest wicket-taker of the series so far. Known for his deceptive variations, he will be a key weapon for India as he looks to strike early and often in the series finale.

India vs South Africa head-to-head record in T20 cricket

India hold the edge over South Africa in T20 international cricket, having won 20 of their 32 encounters. The Proteas have claimed 13 victories, while two matches ended without a result.

India vs South Africa squads for 5th T20I

India’s T20I squad: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wicket-keeper), Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar

South Africa’s T20I squad: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs (wicket-keeper)

Upcoming milestones to keep an eye on

  • Shubman Gill is 131 runs away from completing 1000 runs in T20Is.
  • Sanju Samson requires 5 more runs to complete 1,000 runs in T20Is.
  • Suryakumar Yadav needs 30 runs to reach 9000 runs in T20s.
  • Tilak Verma 77 runs to aggregate 500 runs against South Africa in T20Is.

Where to watch India vs South Africa 5th T20I live

The India vs South Africa 5th T20I will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network’s TV channels.

Live streaming of the IND vs SA 5th T20I will be available on the JioHotstar app and website.