Amid form and selection concerns, India look for closure in final T20I against SA

Following the abandonment of the fourth T20I in Lucknow on Wednesday due to excessive fog and poor visibility, India head into the fifth and final T20 International against South Africa in Ahmedabad on Friday looking for closure as much as victory.

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

What began as a demanding home season has tested depth, form and selection logic, and while the hosts have already ensured they cannot lose the series, several unresolved questions remain as the countdown to the T20 World Cup gathers pace.After being swept 0-2 in the Tests, India regrouped impressively to claim the ODI series and then edged ahead 2-1 in the T20Is, a lead that became unassailable after the fourth match was abandoned. That cushion offers some relief to head coach Gautam Gambhir, but it has not masked concerns around leadership and batting consistency.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav, once the undisputed force of India's T20 setup, is enduring a prolonged lean patch. In a year where T20Is are the only format in which he is guaranteed selection, his returns have dipped alarmingly, adding pressure with each innings as the World Cup approaches.