South Africa Opts to Bowl First Against India in Fifth T20I

In the fifth T20I match in Ahmedabad, South Africa's captain Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to bowl first against India, who leads the series 2-1. With significant player changes, including Jasprit Bumrah returning for India, both teams are eager to secure a win. Captains Markram and Suryakumar Yadav shared their strategies and expectations for the match, setting the stage for an exciting encounter.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 19, 2025, 20:06 IST

Match Overview

In the fifth T20I match held in Ahmedabad on Friday, South Africa's captain Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to field first against India. Currently, India leads the five-match T20 series 2-1, following the cancellation of the fourth match in Lucknow due to heavy fog.

Team Changes

For this match, India's fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah replaces Harshit Rana, while Shubman Gill is sidelined due to injury, allowing Sanju Samson to step in.

Captains' Insights

Markram expressed his thoughts on the decision, stating, "We are going to bowl first. The wicket appears to have some dew, which should help the ball come onto the bat better later in the game. Our focus is on the World Cup, and we want to finish this tour positively. Linde is in for Nortje."

On the other hand, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav mentioned, "We were aiming to bat first. The pitch looks promising, and we believe there won't be dew. Our goal is to set a solid score. The stadium is nearly full, and while the series is at stake, we want to enjoy the game. Bumrah replaces Harshit, and Washi comes in for Kuldeep, while Gill is out due to a minor injury, so Sanju is in."

Playing XI

South Africa's Playing XI: Quinton de Kock(w), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.

India's Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.