South Africa’s memorable tour of India could still end on a high note. After dominating the Test series 2-0 and forcing a decider in the ODIs, they head into the final T20I with a chance to prevent India from claiming the series, something only accomplished once in their last 14 tournaments or series in the format.
However, with no play possible in foggy Lucknow, South Africa are already out of contention for the series win. And that outcome isn’t surprising. India have largely locked in their T20I setup, using this series to fine-tune the final details ahead of their World Cup defense. South Africa, meanwhile, are still experimenting with the ideal combination for their limited-overs squad.
Weather in Ahmedabad is expected to be no obstacle, with daytime temperatures comfortably in the low 30s. Unlike Lucknow, fog or chilly mornings won’t play a factor here. Ahmedabad has also historically been a venue where the toss plays a minor role. Last year, six out of seven night games saw the defending side prevail. But as always, T20 cricket is unpredictable, and conditions later in the season could shift the balance.
Players in Focus – Marco Jansen and Suryakumar Yadav
This series will long be remembered as the tour when Marco Jansen showcased his immense all-round talent. With the bat, ball, and in the field, he has been consistently brilliant. One final victory here would be the perfect capstone to a tour that has truly seen him come into his own.
Suryakumar Yadav, conversely, has endured a frustrating run despite India winning comfortably. He hasn’t reached a T20I half-century since last October, amassing just 239 runs in 21 innings at a strike rate of 119.5. With nearly a month before India’s next series, Yadav will be keen to rediscover form and give his side another edge.
Team Updates – Bumrah Returns, Gill Doubtful
India received a boost in Lucknow with the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who had been on personal leave. He is expected to feature in his hometown of Ahmedabad, though fellow local Axar Patel is sidelined due to illness. There are also reports of a possible toe injury for Shubman Gill, which could open the door for Sanju Samson.
India’s probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill/Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana/Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy.
South Africa, as usual, have kept their selections flexible, making it hard to predict changes to their white-ball line-up. Ahmedabad may see fresh tweaks.
South Africa’s probable XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, George Linde/Keshav Maharaj/Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.
Pitch and Conditions – Favorable Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad offers the ideal November conditions for international cricket in India: warm days, extended daylight, and no fog or smog. The stage is set for a competitive final T20I, potentially the closest encounter of the series.
Stats and Trivia
Arshdeep Singh has dismissed Quinton de Kock five times in 56 balls in T20 cricket, conceding just 66 runs. Interestingly, ten men have opened in 80 or more T20Is, and among them, only Uganda’s Simon Ssesazi has a lower strike rate than Reeza Hendricks, who has scored just eight off ten balls and a three-ball duck in this series. In 15 innings against India, Hendricks has crossed fifty only once, with a strike rate of 118.8.
