Ahmedabad, Dec 19 (UNI) At the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl in the 5th T20I against India, setting the stage for a series-deciding clash.
The spotlight will be on Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, and captain Suryakumar Yadav. Samson returns to the playing XI after Shubman Gill picked up a niggle in Lucknow, bringing his explosive batting and finishing skills to India’s middle order.
Known for turning games around with aggressive strokes, Samson will be crucial in chasing a target on what Yadav described as a “good wicket.”
Jasprit Bumrah makes a comeback in place of Harshit Rana, adding precision and firepower to India’s pace attack. His sharp yorkers and ability to bowl under pressure make him a key factor, especially with South Africa opting to field after winning the toss. Bumrah’s impact in the powerplay and death overs could dictate the match’s momentum.
Captain Suryakumar, leading the side in a series-deciding clash, emphasized expressing themselves and enjoying the game, while keeping the series result in mind. His tactical decisions, alongside Samson’s batting and Bumrah’s bowling, will be central to India’s pursuit of a victory to seal the series.
Teams:
South Africa (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 (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
India bat first as Samson returns to add firepower to middle order
