Ahmedabad Decider: IND vs SA 5th T20I Pitch Report, Playing 11, and Fantasy Picks

The 5th and final T20I between India and South Africa is scheduled for December 19, 2025, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India leads the series 2-1 after the 4th match was abandoned due to fog.

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## Pitch Report & Ground Stats

The Narendra Modi Stadium is known for its batting-friendly nature but offers a balanced contest between bat and ball.

• Surface: The ground has both red and black soil pitches. Red soil tends to offer more bounce and spin, while black soil stays flatter. For T20s, it’s usually a "belter" with a fast outfield.

• Average 1st Innings Score: ~183 runs.

• Bowling Factor: Pacers who can hit the deck and use variations (cutters/slower balls) are more successful than traditional swing bowlers. Spinners usually play a defensive role here unless the pitch is exceptionally dry.

• The "Dew" Factor: Being an evening match in December, dew is highly likely. This makes chasing much easier as the ball becomes slippery for bowlers in the second innings.

• Toss Strategy: Win the toss and bowl first.

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## Probable Playing 11

India (IND)

Shubman Gill is reportedly nursing a toe injury, which might see a change at the top.

1. Abhishek Sharma

2. Sanju Samson / Shubman Gill (Gill is doubtful)

3. Suryakumar Yadav (C)

4. Tilak Varma

5. Hardik Pandya

6. Shivam Dube / Rinku Singh

7. Jitesh Sharma (WK)

8. Varun Chakravarthy

9. Arshdeep Singh

10. Kuldeep Yadav

11. Harshit Rana / Jasprit Bumrah (If rested players return)

South Africa (SA)

1. Quinton de Kock (WK)

2. Reeza Hendricks

3. Aiden Markram (C)

4. Tristan Stubbs

5. Dewald Brevis / David Miller

6. Donovan Ferreira

7. Marco Jansen

8. Ottneil Baartman

9. Lungi Ngidi

10. Anrich Nortje

11. Keshav Maharaj

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## Fantasy Cricket Tips (Captain & Vice-Captain)

Type	Captain (C)	Vice-Captain (VC)
Safe (Small Leagues)	Hardik Pandya (Local boy, knows the ground, bats & bowls)	Quinton de Kock (Aggressive at the top, wicket-keeping points)
High Reward (Grand League)	Abhishek Sharma (Can exploit the powerplay on this flat track)	Varun Chakravarthy (Has been the highest wicket-taker of the series)
Consistent Pick	Tilak Varma (Top run-scorer of the series)	Aiden Markram (Solid anchor and handy off-spin)

Key Players to Watch:

• Marco Jansen: His ability to take wickets with the new ball and score quick runs down the order makes him a must-have.

• Tilak Varma: He is currently in the form of his life, averaging over 50 in the series.