India stretched their winning streak to ten series as they held their nerve to beat South Africa by 30 runs in a high-scoring T20I, surviving a fierce chase under the lights. Defending 231 in heavy dew, India were pushed hard after Quinton de Kock and Dewald Brevis tore into the powerplay, but a decisive burst with a changed, drier ball turned the contest on its head.
India’s innings was transformed by a brutal middle-order assault led by Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma. After a flying start from Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, South Africa briefly pulled things back before Hardik exploded with one of the fastest half-centuries by an Indian in T20Is. His 63 off 25, combined with Tilak’s commanding 73 off 42, produced a match-defining 105-run stand in just 7.2 overs, lifting India from a plateauing position to a formidable 231.
South Africa’s reply began ominously for the hosts. In his 100th T20I, Quinton de Kock was ruthless, dismantling his previous struggles against Arshdeep Singh, while Brevis matched him stroke for stroke. At 118 for 1 after ten overs, the chase looked firmly on track before the momentum shifted dramatically following a ball change at drinks.
That shift belonged to Jasprit Bumrah. Bowling with relentless control, he removed de Kock with an offcutter and finished with outstanding figures of 2 for 17, the decisive difference on a night of big hitting. Varun Chakravarthy backed him up with crucial middle-overs breakthroughs, dismissing Aiden Markram and Donovan Ferreira in successive deliveries to derail South Africa’s charge.
Marco Jansen threatened one final twist with late sixes, but Bumrah returned to close the door, sealing victory and underlining why defending totals in Indian conditions remains one of the toughest challenges in T20 cricket. India may have been tested, but their depth, power, and elite death bowling once again proved too strong, a fitting finish to another commanding series triumph.
