India beat South Africa as warm up for T20 World Cup defence pounds forward

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by News AgenciesDecember 19, 2025 at 07:34 PM

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In December 2025, India defeated South Africa 3-1 in a Twenty20 series, showcasing their strength as they prepare for their T20 World Cup title defense. The final match in Ahmedabad saw India scoring 231-5, with key contributions from Tilak Varma (73) and Hardik Pandya (63). South Africa's chase faltered after a strong start, ultimately falling short at 201-8. Jasprit Bumrah's bowling, including the crucial dismissal of Quinton de Kock, and Varun Chakravarthy's four wickets, contributed to India's victory. Sanju Samson, replacing the injured Shubman Gill, also made a significant impact with a quickfire 63. The series win highlights India's strong form leading into the World Cup.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Narendra Modi Stadium 40% Tilak Varma 50% Quinton de Kock ×250% Varun Chakravarthy 50% Hardik Pandya ×260% Jasprit Bumrah 60% South Africa ×370% India ×480% T20 World Cup ×280%

Keywords

t20 world cup 90% south africa 80% india 80% twenty20 series 70% cricket 60% tilak varma 50% hardik pandya 50% jasprit bumrah 50% match 50% ahmedabad 40%