India held off South Africa in the fifth T20I in Ahmedabad to clinch a 3-1 series victory over the Proteas, maintaining their two-year winning streak in 20-over series. 

India have now won 10 consecutive T20I series dating back to December 2023, though it was not always smooth sailing at Narendra Modi Stadium.

Jasprit Bumrah's two wickets, accounting for the tourists' two most dangerous batters in Quinton de Kock and Marco Jansen, proved decisive after the Proteas threatened to hunt down a target of 231. 

India's strong score came about primarily due to the efforts of Tilak Varma (73 off 42) and Hardik Pandya (63 off 25), with the duo's explosive run-scoring building on an opening partnership of 63 between Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. 

Hardik and Pandya were among four India batters to hit a boundary off their first ball as a proactive approach paid dividends, though it initially looked as though South Africa might match or better their efforts.

Rising to the occasion again! 

Hardik Pandya is the Player of the Match for his scintillating performance in Ahmedabad 

Scorecard  https://t.co/kw4LKLNSl3#TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @hardikpandya7 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/qZh0SUZePz

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 19, 2025

De Kock and Dewald Brevis helped drive the tourists to 118-1 by the halfway point of their innings, but a spell of four wickets for 15 runs following the introduction of a new ball.

Bumrah kickstarted that sequence with a delightful yorker to end De Kock's stand at 65, before Brevis (31), Aiden Markram (six) and Donovan Ferreira (0) following, with Washington Sundar taking the former before Varun Chakravarthy doubled up.

India were dealt one last scare as Jansen thumped back-to-back sixes in the 16th over, but he was taken by Samson off Bumrah's bowling to end any realistic chance of a fightback, with South Africa ultimately falling 30 runs short.

Data Debrief: India's unbeaten run continues

Even after seeing Shubman Gill ruled out due to a minor injury, with Samson his replacement, India achieved their eighth victory in their last nine T20Is with South Africa.

India are now gone unbeaten through 14 T20I series/competitions – a run that includes winning the Asian Games, the T20 World Cup and the Asia Cup.