Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma power India to victory.
India wrapped up their T20I series against South Africa with a clinical 30-run victory in Ahmedabad, finishing the five-match series with a dominant 3-1 lead. The night belonged to Varun Chakaravarthy, whose magical spell of four wickets dismantled the South African middle order just when the visitors seemed to be in a comfortable position.
Chasing a massive 232-run target, South Africa looked dangerous as long as Quinton de Kock and Dewald Brevis were at the crease. However, their departure triggered a dramatic collapse. Varun Chakaravarthy stepped up at the crucial moment, picking up wickets at regular intervals to ensure a comfortable win for the Men in Blue and stifling any hopes of a Proteas comeback.
Earlier in the evening, the Narendra Modi Stadium witnessed some sensational power-hitting. Hardik Pandya reminded the world of his brute strength by smashing the second-fastest T20I fifty for India. Pandya reached his half-century in just 16 balls, a feat only bettered by Yuvraj Singh’s historic 12-ball effort. His whirlwind knock of 63 off 25 balls included five massive sixes that left the crowd chanting his name.
Tilak Varma provided the perfect support from the other end. He continued his rich vein of form with a fluent 73, anchoring the innings after skipper Suryakumar Yadav fell early. The duo shared a lightning-fast 105-run partnership in just 44 deliveries, effectively batting South Africa out of the game.
The foundation for this huge total was laid by the opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Samson, filling in for the injured Shubman Gill, played a sparkling cameo of 37. Although he was eventually dismissed by George Linde, his aggressive start gave India the early momentum.
With this India T20 series win 3-1, the hosts have once again proven their dominance in the shortest format. This victory is a significant moment for Team India, especially for players like Varun Chakaravarthy and Hardik Pandya who have hit peak form ahead of upcoming international selections.
