IND vs SA 5th T20 brings the curtain down on a series. The match is on December 19 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India has a 2-1 lead. One victory here seals their 14th consecutive T20I series win.
Yet captain Suryakumar Yadav has gone 18 innings without a fifty this year, averaging just 14.20. His 213 runs across 20 matches in 2025 paint a worrying picture ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
After the Lucknow fog disaster washed away Wednesday’s contest, the IND vs SA 5th T20 2025 date has been revealed. That abandoned match massacred South Africa’s chances of winning the series, but they can still draw level with a win. The visitors demolished India 2-0 in Tests and now stand one match away from leaving with pride intact.
Shubman Gill fights a toe injury that opens the door for Sanju Samson, who has three T20I centuries while opening. Ahmedabad offers perfect cricket weather, and the IND vs SA live stream on JioHotstar will capture every moment of this crucial decider.
Table of Contents
When and Where to Watch INDvs SA 5th T20
- Date: Friday, December 19, 2025
- Time: 7:00 PM IST
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Live Stream:JioHotstar app and website get now
- TV Broadcast: Star Sports network
Perfect playing conditions await after Lucknow’s fog nightmare. The venue has favored defending teams lately, with six successful defenses in seven night games during last season’s IPL.
Team Previews: India’s Concerns vs South Africa’s Last Stand
India’s Balancing Act
India walks into this match with their IND vs SA T20 squad 2025 looking settled on paper, but reality tells a different story. Suryakumar Yadav hasn’t scored a T20I fifty in over a year.
His 239 runs from 21 innings at a strike rate of 119.5 make for grim reading. The captain’s form matters, especially when you’re defending a World Cup title.
Shubman Gill’s toe problem opens the door for Sanju Samson. The Kerala wicketkeeper-batter has three T20I centuries, all scored opening the batting. Playing him at five or six never made sense anyway. If Gill sits out, Samson gets his preferred slot back.
Jasprit Bumrah returns to his hometown after missing the third match. His presence steadies the bowling unit alongside the in-form Arshdeep Singh and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy. The all-rounder duo of Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube provides balance, though neither has set the series alight yet.
South Africa’s Final Push
The Proteas have blown hot and cold throughout this series. Their batting lineup looks shaky, with Reeza Hendricks managing just 11 runs in two innings at a strike rate that would embarrass most tailenders. Dewald Brevis hasn’t found his groove either, making ordinary scores when the team needed fireworks.
Marco Jansen stands tall as South Africa’s tour MVP. His contributions with bat, ball, and in the field have been outstanding. One match-winning performance here would cap off a memorable tour for the lanky all-rounder.
Captain Aiden Markram might reclaim his opening spot from the struggling Hendricks. Quinton de Kock’s explosive 90 in the second T20I shows what South Africa can achieve when their openers fire. The bowling attack of Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman, and Corbin Bosch has held its own despite limited support from the batters.
Predicted Playing XIs
India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman, Anrich Nortje
Pitch Report
Ahmedabad’s pitch traditionally favors batters during the early overs. Day temperatures still hit the low 30s, meaning no cold fingers or visibility issues. Last year’s IPL showed defending teams succeeded six times in seven night matches here, suggesting the pitch slows down as dew settles.
Expect a high-scoring affair if teams bat first. The conditions suit India’s explosive batting lineup, but South Africa’s struggling batters need this kind of surface to find their rhythm. Spinners might come into play during the middle overs as the ball grips.
Head-to-Head Record: India Holds Edge
India dominates this rivalry with 20 wins from 35 T20I meetings. South Africa has won 13 matches, with two producing no result. The recent form heavily favors India, who’ve won four of their last five completed T20Is. South Africa limps in with four straight losses.
Arshdeep Singh has dismissed Quinton de Kock five times in T20 cricket for just 66 runs from 56 balls. This battle within the battle could shape the match outcome, especially if South Africa bats first.
The Bigger Picture: World Cup Concerns
This match matters beyond series bragging rights. India’s T20 World Cup defense begins in February, and their captain’s form slump rings alarm bells. Suryakumar’s leadership has been excellent; India wins over 80% of matches under him, but leadership alone won’t win you a World Cup.
Gill’s injury struggles highlight the dangers of playing across formats without adequate rest. India needs both their key batters firing when it matters most. South Africa is still looking for the best way to organize their limited-overs cricket. Though they’ve faced challenges, this tour has taught them a lot.
Last Words
India should wrap up the series, but South Africa won’t roll over. The Proteas have already won the Test series and fought hard in ODIs. Drawing the T20 series would give them three formats unbeaten on this tour. Expect Marco Jansen to throw everything at India one last time.
The IND vs SA 5th T20 highlights will likely feature big hitting, tight bowling, and plenty of drama. India’s home advantage and superior form make them favorites, but cricket has a funny way of surprising us. Ahmedabad’s batting-friendly conditions could produce the thriller this series desperately needs.
The match will say a lot about each team’s World Cup condition. India needs their captain to find form; South Africa needs their batters to show up. Friday night can’t come soon enough.
For more, follow Sports Dribble on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
My name is Krishanu Das the founder of the Sports Dribble.
I am Accountant by profession but a Sports Blogger by passion.
I am passionate about sharing my all knowledge and experiences of sports, with my readers and every sports enthusiast.