“He has been the difference between the two teams” - SA head coach reveals the game-changer in IND vs SA fifth T20

South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has heaped praise on the explosive Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya for emerging as the game-changer between the two sides in the fifth and final T20I of the five-match series.

Notably, Pandya was adjudged the Player of the Match for his exceptional knock of 63 runs off 25 balls as India sealed a 30-run win and bagged the series win by 3-1 in Ahmedabad. Speaking at the post-series press conference, Conrad stated that Hardik’s quickfire knock changed the game’s complexion.

"If I were brutally honest, in taking nothing away from Bumrah, I think Hardik's been the difference between the two teams. I think his knock tonight was the difference between us winning and losing. I think he played a knock in the first one as well, where he just walked in, and we had him in a little bit of trouble," Conrad said during the post-match press conference. 

"Look, I think there's a reason why he's one of the best in the world in this format. So, yes, his performances have been right up there. I don't know who the man of the series is out there, but I'll be very surprised if it's not him. So, I think he's been the difference between the two sides," he added.

Shifting our focus to the details of the fifth and final T20I, batting first, India posted an imposing total of 231/5 on the board. Sanju Samson (37), Abhishek Sharma (34), Tilak Varma (73), and Hardik Pandya (63) were impressive with the willow. 

In the chase, Quinton de Kock's 65-run knock went in vain as South Africa scored only 201/8 in 20 overs, losing the game by 30 runs. Varun Chakravarthy scalped a match-winning four-wicket haul to win the player of the series award.

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