Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is hosting the fifth and final game of the T20I series between the hosts India and the visitors South Africa on Friday night (December 19), which is also the last game for India's men's national cricket team in 2025. While Jasprit Bumrah has expectedly joined the playing XI replcing Harshit Rana, the T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill isn't in the playing XI. Here we know the reason for Gill's absence from the series-decider. 

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Why is Shubman Gill not playing IND vs SA Ahmedabad T20I?

Before the original scheduled toss for the fourth T20I at Lucknow last Wednesday night (December 17), there was news on Shubman Gill, who missed that game due to a right foot injury, which he got during the net practice on the previous day.

Although the Indian T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill is improving, he is still unavailable for the Ahmedabad T20I. As he is recovering from injury, Gill is missing the Ahmedabad T20I, the series decider.

South African captain Aiden Markram won the toss in the last game of the series and chose to field first. Meanwhile, the Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav was considering batting first. The Indian captain confirmed three changes in the playing XI for the Ahmedabad T20I, as Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, and Washington Sundar have replaced Shubman Gill, Harshit Rana, and Kuldeep Yadav. 

In the meantime, the South African skipper confirmed that George Linde has replaced Anrich Nortje for the last game of the series. 

IND vs SA T20I series: India leading by 2-1 before last T20I

Hosts India are currently leading this series by 2-1, while the last game at Lucknow had no result due to no match for excessive fog. India won the first and third game of the series by 101 runs at Cuttack and seven wickets at Dharamsala, while South Africa won the second game of the series by 51 runs at New Chandigarh.

The Ahmedabad T20I is the must-win game for South Africa to save the series by ending the five-match series 2-2. Meanwhile, the hosts India can win this series by avoiding a defeat in this fixture.