IND vs SA: Hardik Pandya unleashes beast mode; hits second fastest fifty for India in T20I

By Vikas Singh Derek

Vikas Singh Derek has a Master's in Journalism and has written more than 50,000 articles. He currently works as a cricket content writer at Khel Now.

Published at :December 19, 2025 at 9:42 PM

Modified at :December 19, 2025 at 9:42 PM

(Courtesy : BCCI)

Hardik Pandya scored a half-century off just 16 balls in the fifth IND vs SA T20I.

Indian Cricket Team all-rounder Hardik Pandya clinched a massive record in the fifth T20I against the South Africa Cricket Team on Friday, December 19. He registered the record for the second-fastest half-century for the Men in Blue in the shortest format.

The final T20I of the five-match series got underway at Narendra Modi International Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. India made three changes to their playing XI in the clash. South Africa captain Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to field first.

Opener Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma gave a quickfire start to batting, adding 63 runs for the first wicket in just 5.4 overs. After their dismissals, Tilak Varma took the onus of batting, smacking a half-century (73 off 42).

Batting at number five, Hardik did a wonderful job in the lower order, hitting 63 runs off just 25 deliveries. His quickfire innings was laced with five boundaries and an equal number of sixes. Right from the start, he hammered Proteas bowlers all over the park, reaching his half-century off just 16 deliveries.

Hardik Pandya scripts a record for the second fastest fifty for India in T20I

Hardik Pandya, Asia Cup 2025, India — Hardik Pandya (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/MB Media/Getty Images)

The Indian all-rounder scripted his name in the record books with his stunning knock. He now holds the record for the second-fastest fifty for India in T20Is off just 16 deliveries.

He went past batters like Abhishek Sharma, KL Rahul, and Suryakumar Yadav in the list of fastest T20I fifties for India.

Former star all-rounder Yuvraj Singh holds the record for the fastest fifty for India, which he scored in just 12 balls against England in the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup.

Fastest fifties for India in T20Is (in balls)

12 – Yuvraj Singh vs ENG, Durban, 2007 WC
16 – Hardik Pandya vs SA, Ahmedabad, 2025*
17 – Abhishek Sharma vs ENG, Wankhede, 2025
18 – KL Rahul vs SCO, Dubai, 2021
18 – Suryakumar Yadav vs SA, Guwahati, 2022

With Pandya’s heroics in the death overs, the hosts piled up a gigantic total of 231/5 in the first innings. The Suryakumar Yadav & Co. lead the five-match series 2-1.

How many runs did Hardik Pandya score in the fifth IND vs SA T20I?

Hardik scored 63 runs in the fifth T20I.

Who won the toss in the fifth IND vs SA T20I?

South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first in the encounter.

What is the venue of the fifth IND vs SA T20I?

The venue of the fifth IND vs SA T20I is Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

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Vikas Singh Derek

Vikas Singh Derek is a core cricket-lover since childhood and has always followed the sport both in his personal and professional life. He started his school life by watching cricket at home with family. Later, he played cricket on the field at local clubs during college. After his Master's in Journalism from Mumbai, he followed his passion by covering cricket news across various digital media. Since 2015, he has been an aspiring sports journalist and cricket content writer with over 50K+ articles.