The win sealed a 3–1 series triumph for the reigning T20 world champions and will do little to dent their confidence as they build towards the ICC T20 World Cup, set to be hosted in India and Sri Lanka early in 2026.

Asked to bat first, India turned the heat up from the outset, piling on an imposing 231/5 in their 20 overs. Tilak Varma anchored the innings superbly with a classy 73 off 42 balls, while Hardik Pandya lit up the stadium with a blistering 63 from just 25 deliveries.

For the Proteas, Corbin Bosch was the standout with the ball, finishing with 2/44 from his three overs, while Ottneil Baartman and George Linde chipped in with a wicket apiece on a punishing batting surface.

South Africa’s reply got off to a flyer, led once again by a sublime Quinton de Kock. The veteran opener was at his fluent best, cracking 65 off 35 balls, with Dewald Brevis adding impetus with a rapid 31 off 17.

However, when De Kock fell with the score on 120/2 after 10.2 overs, the momentum shifted dramatically. The middle order struggled to keep pace and the Proteas were eventually restricted to 201/8.

Captain's Suryakumar Yadav and Aiden Markram pose with the men's T20 World Cup trophy. Photo: BCCI

Varun Chakravarthy was the pick of the Indian attack, claiming 4/53 in his four overs, while Jasprit Bumrah turned the screws with a miserly 2/17, applying relentless pressure at the death.

In the aftermath of the defeat, Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad conceded that India have set the benchmark in T20 International cricket, particularly in their own backyard.

“Ever is a long time, but it’s certainly close – and to be brutally honest, I can’t think of a better side,” said Conrad.

Hardik Pandya. Photo: BCCI

“They’re a hell of a team. With the bat they put bowlers under pressure from ball one, and with the ball they’ve got a few genuine match-winners.

“You need to be at the top of your game all the time against them, but I don’t think we’re far off, and we’ll take some important learnings from this.”

Conrad also reflected positively on a tour that saw South Africa script history by winning a Test series in India for the first time in more than 25 years, while narrowly missing out in both the ODI and T20 formats.

Quinton de Kock. Photo: BCCI

“It’s been a wonderful tour across all three formats,” he added.

“We started brilliantly with the Test series, took the one-dayers to a decider and had an opportunity to level the T20s.

“It’s an incredible place to tour. You learn a lot about yourself, the game and the conditions - especially with the World Cup coming up here in a few months’ time.

India continued their dominance with a 10th straight series win. Photo: BCCI

“Overall, it’s been a very successful tour. You always want to win every series, but they’re world champions for a reason - and we’ll be back to try and topple them.”

The Proteas now return home, where most of the squad will link up with their respective SA20 franchises, before turning their attention to the incoming West Indies tour, which gets under way towards the back end of January.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek