India produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat South Africa by 7 wickets in the third T20I at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss on a seam-friendly pitch under chilly conditions, India’s bowlers dismantled the Proteas batting lineup. South Africa suffered an early collapse, slumping to 7/3 in the powerplay, before being bowled out for a modest 117 in 20 overs.
Captain Aiden Markram fought a lone battle with a resilient 61 off 46 balls (including several boundaries), providing the only significant resistance. The rest of the lineup crumbled against disciplined Indian bowling. Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana struck early blows with two wickets each in the powerplay, while Varun Chakravarthy claimed 2 wickets to reach his 50th T20I scalp. Hardik Pandya marked his 100th T20I wicket by dismissing Tristan Stubbs, and Kuldeep Yadav (Birthday Boy) mopped up the tail with two quick strikes.
In response, India’s openers set the tone with an aggressive power play. Abhishek Sharma blazed away to 35 off just 18 balls, peppered with boundaries and sixes, as India raced to over 60 in the first six overs. Shubman Gill and Tilak Varma contributed steadily before Shivam Dube finished the chase in style with a six and four in the 16th over.
India reached 120/3 in 15.5 overs, completing the chase with 25 balls to spare. The victory highlighted India’s bowling depth and batting firepower, especially on a pitch offering assistance to seamers.
Brief Scores:
South Africa 117 all out in 20 overs (Aiden Markram 61; Arshdeep Singh 2/13, Harshit Rana 2/34, Varun Chakravarthy 2 wickets, Kuldeep Yadav 2 wickets)
India 120/3 in 15.5 overs (Abhishek Sharma 35; Shivam Dube unbeaten finish)
The series now moves to Lucknow for the fourth T20I, where South Africa will look to level terms, while India aim to extend their advantage ahead of the final match in Ahmedabad.
This win reinforces India’s strong preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup, showcasing their ability to dominate in varying conditions.
