India extended their remarkable run in T20I series to ten in a row, sealing another series victory after holding their nerve in a high-scoring thriller where defending 231 proved anything but straightforward. On a night when 432 runs were smashed, India’s depth, experience and late-game execution proved decisive against a spirited South African chase.
South Africa came out swinging under the lights, with dew making batting a dream early on. Quinton de Kock and Dewald Brevis tore into the attack, racing to 118 for 1 in just ten overs and threatening to make a daunting target look routine. But the turning point arrived with the change of ball. Once India got hold of a drier one, the game flipped dramatically as they ripped out four wickets for just 15 runs and dragged the contest firmly back in their favour.
Jasprit Bumrah was the defining difference between the sides. In a run-fest, he produced figures of 4-0-17-2, applying the brakes when South Africa were at full throttle and then returning at the death to close the game. Even a late surge from Marco Jansen, who launched successive sixes in the 16th over, could only delay the inevitable, underlining just how difficult defending at night in Indian conditions can be.
India’s total owed much to a devastating middle-overs assault led by Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma. After a promising start threatened to stall, the pair completely transformed the innings. Hardik blazed his way to the second-fastest T20I fifty by an Indian, finishing with a breathtaking 63 off just 25 balls, including 31 from his first seven deliveries. Tilak played the perfect foil, mixing placement with power in a fluent 73 from 42 balls.
The duo added 105 runs in just 7.2 overs, repeatedly clearing the ropes without even needing to get close to the pitch of the ball. Their ability to hit cleanly against good-length deliveries ensured India not only regained momentum but surged past the 230 mark. Even when they fell, Shivam Dube ensured the pressure never eased, launching a six first ball to keep South Africa on the back foot.
Earlier, with Shubman Gill sidelined by a foot injury, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma gave India a brisk start. Abhishek was immediately aggressive, while Samson showcased his trademark elegance during their 63-run stand inside the powerplay. South Africa, however, stayed disciplined, with George Linde quietly pulling things back and removing both Samson and Suryakumar Yadav to prevent India from running away too early.
The chase, though, was anything but straightforward. De Kock, playing his 100th T20I, was at his destructive best, correcting a poor matchup against Arshdeep Singh in emphatic fashion. Alongside Brevis, he punished Varun Chakravarthy in one expensive over, raising genuine fears for India as South Africa surged again after the early loss of Reeza Hendricks.
That surge was halted by Bumrah’s timely intervention. His offcutter induced a return catch from de Kock, opening the door for India to strike repeatedly. Hardik bowled smartly to remove Brevis, while Varun redeemed himself spectacularly by dismissing Aiden Markram and Donovan Ferreira in successive deliveries with sharp variations.
Even then, David Miller and Jansen kept the contest alive, with Jansen delivering one last explosive cameo on an otherwise outstanding tour. But with Bumrah holding two overs back, India always had a final trump card. A well-disguised slower ball accounted for Jansen, finally sealing a hard-earned win and another series for India.
It was a victory built on explosive batting, tactical bowling changes and calm execution under pressure — a complete performance that once again highlighted India’s growing mastery of the T20 format.
