IND vs SA 3rd T20I, Highlights: India go 2-1 up as a disciplined, combined bowling effort dismantles South Africa in Dharamsala.
Brief Scores: SA 117 (Aiden Markram 61, Donovan Ferreira 20, Varun Chakravarthy 2/11) lost to India 120/3 (Abhishek Sharma 35, Tilak Varma 26, Corbin Bosch 1/18) by 7 wickets. India leads the series 2-1.
India put behind the disappointing loss in the second T20I against South Africa by producing a clinical performance in the third game at Dharamsala.
India bowlers fared much better on a more helpful surface and restricted the Proteas to a mere 117 runs. The chase proved to be a straightforward one as Abhishek Sharma’s early blitz helped India win it in a canter.
Read More: IND vs SA 2025-26, 2nd T20I: De Kock 90, Jansen 2-25 headline South Africa win; series pegged 1-1
Talking Point: Arshdeep Singh bowled with more authenticity
Arshdeep Singh had a torrid outing in the previous game as he went for 54 in his four overs. More than going for runs, he didn’t find any rhythm as he bowled 13 deliveries in his third over, which included a lot of wides.
So, there would have been a lot of pressure on him coming into this game. But he weathered the storm by bowling fine line and length in all phases. The left-arm pacer found swing and troubled the batters early on with his line.
At the death, he redeemed himself by nailing the ball away from right-handers to perfection. When Markram was all set to attack in the 18th over, he bowled outside his attacking arc and found success in restricting the Protea skipper.
Arshdeep Singh & Harshit Rana’s opening spell set India’s tone
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss for the second successive game and expectedly opted to bowl first. This paid dividends. In the very first over, Arshdeep Singh trapped Reeza Hendricks’ leg before for a duck, before Harshit Rana sent back inform batters Quinton de Kock and Dewald Brevis in his first two overs.
As a result of some great new ball bowling, the Proteas managed just 25 runs in the powerplay. Hardik Pandya joined the act by removing the dangerous Tristan Stubbs, reducing the visitors to 44/4 at the halfway mark. Skipper Aiden Markram tried his best to keep things going, but he found very little support from the other end.
India chipped in with wickets and bundled out South Africa for 117, even as Aiden Markram single-handedly kept them afloat with a fighting 61.
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Abhishek Sharma’s start powers India to easy win
Chasing a meagre total of 118, India’s openers began with a bang as both Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill scored boundaries at will, especially the former. Abhishek hit three sixes and as many fours in the 35 runs he made inside the first six overs as India hammered 68 runs in that phase.
While the Proteas came back strongly after Abhishek’s wicket, it was too little, too late for them. They reduced the flow of runs after the powerplay overs and saw the back of the out-of-form players, Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav. But, the visitors couldn’t keep India from winning by seven wickets.
What’s Next
India would like to seal the series at Lucknow when the sides meet again at the Ekana Stadium on 17 December. However, they will face a stern test from South Africa, who have shown a habit of coming back strongly after suffering a defeat in this tour.
Read More: Time for India to rope in in-form opening partner for Abhishek Sharma in T20Is
Statistical highlights from IND vs SA 3rd T20I, Dharamsala
- Arshdeep Singh is the leading wicket-taker (22) against South Africa in T20Is.
- Hardik Pandya reached the 100-wicket mark in T20Is, the third bowler to do so for India after Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah.
- Hardik is only the fifth player to score 1000 or more runs and take at least 100 wickets in T20Is.
- Varun Chakravarthy completed 50 wickets in T20Is, becoming the 12th bowler for India to do so.
- The opening stand of 60 runs between Abhishek Sharma & Shubman Gill is the fourth-highest for this wicket for India against South Africa in T20Is.
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