Who won India vs South Africa 5th T20I today? — Match result & turning points

India clinched the five-match series 3-1 with a 30-run victory in Ahmedabad. Batting first, India posted a massive 231, courtesy of Hardik Pandya's quick 63 off just 16 balls, the second-fastest fifty for India in T20Is. Tilak Varma added 73 off 42. Meanwhile, South Africa's chase started explosively as Quinton de Kock, playing his 100th T20I, smashed 65 off 35 balls. When Brevis joined him, they tore into the opposition bowling, racing to 118/1 in 10 overs.

However, Jasprit Bumrah dismissed de Kock with a brilliant caught-and-bowled, triggering a collapse. South Africa lost 4 wickets for just 15 runs. Bumrah's figures of 2/17 in 4 overs proved match-winning on a night when 432 runs were scored. Furthermore, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy also added four wickets to his tally as India restricted the visitors to 201/8.

Top batting performance of the match — Hardik Pandya

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya didn't spare any opposition bowler during his breathtaking knock. Pandya raced to his half-century in just 16 balls, the second-fastest by an Indian in T20Is. His innings saw him smash four boundaries and five sixes. Pandya was particularly brilliant against left-arm spinner George Linde. He went on to score 63 off just 25 deliveries, and his cameo propelled India to a massive total of 231/5.

Top Bowling performance of the match - Varun Chakravarthy

Varun Chakravarthy delivered a match-winning spell, finishing with figures of 4/53 as he single-handedly turned the game in India’s favour. Introduced in the seventh over, the mystery spinner immediately made an impact by dismissing Reeza Hendricks, whose innings ended with a chip brilliantly caught by Shivam Dube. Chakravarthy then removed South Africa captain Aiden Markram with an lbw decision. He followed it with a stunning double strike, as Donovan Ferreira and George Linde were both bowled by deceptive googlies. South Africa collapsed from a strong position, losing four wickets for just 15 runs.

Who won the Player of the Match?

Hardik Pandya was the standout batting performer in the fifth and final T20I. With the bat, he recorded the second-fastest fifty by an Indian in T20Is. His knock, along with support from Tilak Varma, ensured the hosts reachead a comfortable target.  With the ball, he picked the wicket of Dewald Brevis and conceded 41 runs in three overs. 

Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved

• Varun Chakravarthy vs Ferreira (series): Chakravarthy dismissed Ferreira three times in just 10 balls, conceding only five runs across four innings.
• Aiden Markram vs Varun Chakravarthy (T20Is): Markram has managed only 45 runs in six innings against Chakravarthy, getting out four times at an average of 11.25.
• Most 50+ scores vs India in T20Is: Quinton de Kock tops the list with six fifty-plus scores in 14 innings, ahead of Nicholas Pooran and Jos Buttler (five each).
• Highest Powerplay scores for SA vs IND: South Africa’s 67/0 at Ahmedabad in 2025 is their joint second-highest Powerplay score against India.
• South Africa reached fifty in just 3.3 overs against India at Ahmedabad, their joint fourth-fastest in T20Is.
• This was South Africa’s first 50-plus opening partnership against India in their last 20 T20I innings.
• Quinton de Kock played his 100th T20I, becoming only the second South African man to reach the feat after David Miller.
• The match produced the second-highest T20I team total at this venue, behind India’s 234/4 vs New Zealand in 2023.
• India lead globally with 34 scores of 200 or more, ahead of Somerset (32) and CSK and Surrey (30 each).
• Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya’s 105-run stand is India’s highest fourth-wicket (or lower) partnership against South Africa in T20Is.
• Tilak Varma has scored 496 runs in 10 T20I innings against South Africa at a staggering average of 70.85.
• Tilak Varma now tops the list with 496 runs, surpassing Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Virat Kohli.
• Hardik Pandya’s 16-ball fifty against South Africa is the second-fastest by an Indian in T20Is.
• Abhishek Sharma’s 1602 runs in 2025 are the second-most by an Indian in a T20 calendar year, behind Virat Kohli’s 2016 record.

What is the next match?

The five-match T20I series concluded with India winning it with a 3-1 margin. The Men in Blue's next T20I assignment is scheduled against New Zealand, starting 21st January, 2026. Meanwhile, South Africa will fly back home for a home series against the West Indies, beginning on 27th January 2026.