Hurricane Hardik blew at Motera that ravaged South Africa’s bowling, George Linde in particular. After his first three overs, the left-arm spinner’s figures read 1/19. On a batting paradise at Narendra Modi Stadium, it was an excellent effort. Then the carnage began.
After 13 overs, India were 131/3, losing the toss and batting first in the final T20I against South Africa on Friday. Suryakumar Yadav (5) yet again fell cheaply and Pandya walked out to bat to a rousing reception from nearly 80,000 fans. People in this part of the world still love the home boy, the former Gujarat Titans captain, even after two years of him switching allegiance to Mumbai Indians. The all-rounder warmed-up with a first-ball six off Corbin Bosch before taking Linda to the cleaners.
The first ball of the 14th over was muscled over long-on by Tilak Varma followed by a single in the second. Pandya’s opening act against the spinner was a four past long-on. Then, he stood and delivered — a majestic over-boundary over cover. Pandya manufactured room when there was none. The next six went miles into the stands, the longest hit of the night. He rounded off the over with a four past extra-cover. After four overs, Linde’s figures read, 1/46.
A 16-ball fifty set the stadium alight and when Pandya eventually left to a standing ovation in the final over of the Indian innings after scoring 63 (5×4, 5×6) off 25 deliveries, the hosts were in complete ascendency. Varma at the other end was resplendent in sublime touch, waltzing to a 73 off 42 balls and adding 105 runs with Pandya for the fourth wicket. It took India to 231/5 after 20 overs, but beyond the hard numbers, there was a bigger picture.
That Shubman Gill would miss the T20I series-decider was all but officially known. The confirmation came from the BCCI at the toss. Unlucky for the team’s vice-captain that he missed out on the opportunity to regain his shortest format mojo on the best surface of the series.
Gill’s pain was Sanju Samson’s gain. The reunion of the old opening pair, Sanju and Abhishek Sharma, saw India go double barrel from the outset. The former, in fact, matched the southpaw shot for shot and he was doing it with languid elegance. India raced to 56 for no loss after five overs, with Sanju batting on 27 off 13. He went on to score 37 off 22 balls, trumping Abhishek (34 off 21 balls), strike-rate-wise — 168.18 vis-à-vis 161.90. In the process, the diminutive wicketkeeper-batter from Kerala made a statement.
“If ever Sanju needed a surface to press his case for selection, it is this one at the Narendra Modi stadium,” Ravichandran Ashwin posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, adding: “Best conditions to bat.” Irfan Pathan went a step further and wrote on X: “When Sanju Samson plays you get to see attack from both the ends.”
As per ESPNcricinfo stats, in 12 matches before this fixture in 2024-2025, Abhishek and Sanju scored 267 runs as an opening pair at 9.82 runs per over. Gill’s return to the T20I fold as Surya’s deputy before the Asia Cup earlier this year saw Sanju lose his opening slot and eventually his place in the playing XI. And the team had to tweak its lower-order batting as well, bringing in Jitesh Sharma at the expense of Rinku Singh. Sanju’s knock today will keep Gill on his toes. It will also give the team management a happy headache, with the T20 World Cup around the corner. India went on to win another bilateral T20I series, but this was the biggest takeaway from the final game, offsetting Surya’s slump.
India won by 30 runs. They are now unbeaten in 14 consecutive T20I series. Apart from a brilliant 65 off 35 balls from Quinton de Kock, South Africa’s batting didn’t gel, as Varun Chakravarthy weaved his magic and bagged a four-for even on a featherbed. He is indispensable in this format.
Brief scores: India 231/5 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 73, Hardik Pandya 63; Corbin Bosch 2/44) beat South Africa 201/8) in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 65; Varun Chakravarthy 4/53).
Also Read: Samson impresses again as Shastri calls for consistency in selection
