India secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the third T20 International at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. This win gives the Men in Blue a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, showcasing strong bowling performances and a solid chase. Despite chilly conditions and a pitch favoring seam bowling, India’s bowlers restricted South Africa to a mere 117.
Key bowlers Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav each claimed two wickets, dismantling the Proteas’ batting lineup. Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube also contributed with one wicket each. South Africa struggled to recover after losing four wickets for just 30 runs within the first seven overs. Their innings was anchored by Aiden Markram’s resilient 61, but he found little support, with only Donovan Ferreira (20) and Anrich Nortje (12) reaching double figures.
In response, India’s chase was spearheaded by a blistering 35 off 18 balls from Abhishek Sharma. While Shubman Gill (28) and Tilak Varma (25 not out) experienced some difficulty, Sharma’s aggressive start ensured India was always ahead of the required run rate. Shivam Dube (10 not out) provided the finishing touches with some powerful hitting, guiding India to the target with 25 balls to spare. The victory sets a strong precedent for India as they aim to extend their series lead.