Hardik Pandya Smashes Yuvraj Singh’s Record, Destroys South Africa in 5th T20

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya produced a sensational performance against South Africa in the fifth T20, smashing a 50 in just 16 balls to break Yuvraj Singh’s record. Playing a blistering innings of 63 runs off 25 balls, Pandya also contributed with the ball, picking up a crucial wicket.

Record-Breaking Performance
Pandya’s explosive knock is now the second-fastest T20 half-century by an Indian. His 25-ball innings included five sixes and five fours, propelling India to a massive 231/5 in their 20 overs. With his all-round performance, Pandya left an indelible mark on the game and was deservedly named Player of the Match.

This innings also marked the fourth occasion in international T20 cricket where Pandya scored a fifty and took at least one wicket in the same match, surpassing Yuvraj Singh, who had achieved this feat three times. Other notable players, including Virat Kohli and Shivam Dube, have achieved it twice. This was Pandya’s second half-century of the series; in the opening match, he had scored an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls while also taking a wicket.

Match Summary
Chasing after losing the toss, India batted first, with Tilak Varma scoring 73, Pandya 63, Riyan Parag 37, and Abhishek Sharma 34, to reach 231/8 in 20 overs. South Africa fell short, managing 201/8, with Quinton de Kock top-scoring at 65. Varun Chakravarthy was the pick of the bowlers for India, claiming four wickets. India won the match by 30 runs, sealing a thrilling series victory.

Hardik Pandya’s heroics with both bat and ball underline his status as one of the most impactful all-rounders in world cricket today, and his performance has set the stage for an exciting future in the 2026 T20 World Cup.