3rd T20I Updates: India crush SA, lead series 2-1

Sun, 14 December 2025

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22:25

India crush SA, lead series 2-1

India 120-3 (15.5 Ovs) vs SA 117 | SCORECARD

The win took a little longer than expected, but India still wrapped it up comfortably, taking a 2-1 series lead. The victory was built on the back of a superb bowling performance, which kept South Africa under constant pressure.

Abhishek Sharma then dominated the powerplay, smashing 38 off just 15 balls, giving India a brisk start and allowing Shubman Gill some time at the crease. In hindsight, that exposure didn't help Gill much, as he struggled to find rhythm, while Tilak Varma also remained cautious -- though India's dominance made it irrelevant.

For South Africa, it was Aiden Markram's gritty 61 that brought some respectability to their innings, helping them inch past the 120-run mark at the halfway stage.

Despite his resistance, the visitors were never truly in the hunt, as India's early breakthroughs and steady aggression set the tone for the chase.

22:18

Dube finishes in style, India takes 2-1 lead

India 120-3 (15.5 Ovs) vs SA 117 | SCORECARD

Ottniel Baartman is into the attack. Tilak Varma defends the first two balls before nudging a single. Shivam Dube then takes charge, smashing a huge six over the field. He follows it up with a four through the gap.

With another confident strike, Dube dispatches the winning runs.

India win by 7 wickets with 25 balls remaining, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

22:14

SKY departs but India need just 9 to win

India 109-3 (15 Ovs) vs SA 117 | SCORECARD

Anrich Nortje is into the attack. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav rotate strike with singles, adding six runs from the over. After 14 overs, India are 101 for 2.

Lungi Ngidi continues. SKY defends the first ball before launching back-to-back boundaries, looking in prime touch. But the breakthrough comes next -- Suryakumar Yadav, out! Caught by Ottniel Baartman. He departs for 12 off 11 balls. Shivam Dube walks in and defends the last two deliveries of the over.

After 15 overs, India are 109 for 3, needing 9 runs from 30 balls.

22:13

Jansen breaks through, removes Gill

India 94-2 (13 Ovs) vs SA 117 | SCORECARD

Suryakumar Yadav walks in -- India will be hoping he can fire. Corbin Bosch is into the attack. Tilak Varma defends the first delivery and picks up a single off the next. SKY also rotates strike with a single, and the batters exchange a few more singles. A loud appeal for LBW follows, but the on-field umpire doesn't give it. The bowler reviews confidently, but ball-tracker shows it pitched outside leg stump, and the decision stands.

Only two runs come off the over, and after 13 overs India are 94 for 2, needing 24 runs from 42 balls.

21:56

Jansen breaks through, removes Gill

India 92-2 (12 Ovs) vs SA 117 | SCORECARD

Lungi Ngidi is brought back into the attack. Tilak Varma defends the first delivery before nudging a couple of runs. Three runs come off the over, and after 11 overs India move to 91 for 1.

Marco Jansen returns. Tilak defends the first ball and then rotates strike with a single to cover. But the breakthrough comes next -- bowled! Shubman Gill's struggle in the innings finally ends. After going into a shell, he pays the price, departing for 28 off 27 balls (5x4).

21:49

Gill, Tilak cruise towards target

India 88-1 (10 Ovs) vs SA 117 | SCORECARD

Corbin Bosch continues. Tilak Varma and Shubman Gill exchange singles. Gill is beaten on a flick, but a leg bye is called. Tilak finishes the over with a boundary. Eight runs come off the over, taking India to 83 for 1 after eight overs. India need 35 runs from 72 balls.

Ottniel Baartman is back. Gill cuts to deep point for a single. Tilak jabs towards the bowler for no run, followed by a dot ball. He then nudges one to cover for a single, while Gill defends the last two deliveries. Only two runs come off the over, India move to 85 for 1 after nine overs.

Nortje comes around the wicket. Tilak beats the flick and gets a leg bye towards point for a single. Gill defends, then rotates strike with a single to cover. Tilak defends and picks up another run towards mid-off, and Gill defends the final ball.

Three runs from the over, India are 88 for 1 after 10 overs. Drinks are called. India now need 30 runs from 60 balls.

Shubman Gill is batting on 28 off 27balls, Tilak Varma batting on 17 off 15 balls.

21:37

Abhishek falls after rapid 35

India 75-1 (7 Ovs) vs SA 117 | SCORECARD

Anrich Nortje comes into the attack. Shubman Gill defends the first ball before a delivery down the leg side is called wide. Gill then slams a boundary but is beaten by the next ball. He picks up a single off the following delivery. Tilak Varma nudges one to midwicket for a run, and Gill defends the last ball of the over.

Seven runs come from the over, taking India to 75 for 1 after seven overs.

India now need 43 runs from 78 balls.

21:28

Abhishek falls after rapid 35

India 68-1 (6 Ovs) vs SA 117 | SCORECARD

Ottniel Baartman is introduced into the attack, and Shubman Gill greets him with a boundary. He's beaten by the next delivery before bending the knee and punching one through for four. Gill then flicks through forward square leg for a couple and defends the final two balls. Ten runs come from the over, taking India to 42 without loss after three overs. Marco Jansen continues. Abhishek nudges one to mid-on for a single. Gill defends before slamming the next delivery for four. Singles follow to close out the over. Seven runs added, India move to 49 for 0 after four.

Baartman returns and Abhishek cuts loose -- a slashed six over deep brings up India's fifty in just 4.1 overs. A boundary follows as Sharma stays on the charge. He then swings and misses before slicing one over cover-point for a single. Gill defends the last two balls. Eleven runs from the over, India reach 60 without loss after five.

Corbin Bosch comes into the attack. Abhishek jabs one towards cover but finds the fielder. Next ball -- out! Abhishek looks to cut but is brilliantly caught by Aiden Markram, ending a sparkling knock of 35 off 18 balls.

Tilak Varma is the new batter and gets off the mark in style with a boundary. He then defends two deliveries before slamming another four to end the over.

Eight runs and a wicket come from it, and after six overs India are 68 for 1.

21:10

Flying start! India on fire chasing 117

India 32-0 (2 Ovs) vs SA 117 | SCORECARD

Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill are out in the middle, with Abhishek on strike. Lungi Ngidi opens the bowling.

Abhishek gets off the mark in style, launching Ngidi for a maximum. He then looks to glance one away, the ball brushing the thigh pad and racing to the boundary. Cramped for room next ball, Abhishek plays it close to his body and nudges it down the pitch for a couple.

Another boundary follows. Ngidi goes short on middle and leg, Abhishek attempts the pull but is struck on the thigh and can't add to the score.

A big first over for India -- 16 runs from it, and the hosts are off to an excellent start in the chase.

Marco Jansen comes on from the other end and starts with a wide. He then traps Gill LBW straight away -- the finger goes up, but Gill reviews instantly. Replays show a clear inside edge, and the on-field decision is overturned.

Gill responds by driving through the on side for four and follows it up with a single. Abhishek swings and misses next ball before finding the boundary at fine leg. He then launches a huge six over sweeper cover to cap off a superb over.

Sixteen runs come from it, and after two overs India race to 32 without loss.

20:46

SA all out for 117

SA 117 all out (20 Ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Lungi Ngidi is the new batter. He defends his first delivery before nudging the next for a single. Four runs and a wicket come from the over, and after 19 overs South Africa are 115 for 8.

Kuldeep Yadav comes on to bowl the final over on his birthday. Anrich Nortje swings and misses. He looks to carve one over the off side -- beaten again. Nortje charges down the track, misses completely, and Jitesh Sharma whips off the bails with ease.

Stumped! Nortje departs for 12 off 12 balls as India finish strongly at the death.

Ottniel Baartman slashes one along the ground to deep cover for a single, with Ngidi rotating strike at the other end. Next ball -- out! Baartman waits back and looks to go big over the off side but toe-ends the shot. Suryakumar Yadav takes a simple catch at extra cover, and South Africa are bowled out.

South Africa are all out for 117, and opting to bowl first has paid rich dividends for India.

20:40

Markram hits 50, then falls to Arshdeep

SA 115-8 (19 Ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Harshit Rana is brought back into the attack, and Aiden Markram greets him with a boundary. He follows it up with a huge six to bring up a well-made fifty off 41 balls. A miscued cut drops safely at point for a single. Rana then nails a perfect yorker. Nortje looks to whip it through midwicket, gets his back leg out of the way, and a leg bye is called. Markram finishes the over with another towering six, before a single ends an excellent over for South Africa. Nineteen runs come from it, taking the total to 111 for 7 after 18 overs.

Arshdeep Singh returns. A wide, low full toss at 134 kph is squeezed for a single as Markram clears his front leg. Nortje flicks one to deep point for a run. Then the breakthrough -- caught! Markram edges one through to Jitesh Sharma. Arshdeep removes the South African skipper again, a crucial strike at the death. Markram departs for a fighting 61 off 46 balls.

20:33

Varun bamboozles Jansen, SA 7 down

SA 92-7 (17 Ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Shivam Dube continues. Aiden Markram and Marco Jansen exchange singles. Jansen then looks to pull through midwicket, but Harshit Rana makes a mess of it -- misjudging the catch after an earlier lapse in the field. The mistake results in a boundary to end the over. Eight runs come from it, and South Africa move to 77 for 6 after 15 overs.

The very next over brings the breakthrough. A deceptive googly completely bamboozles Jansen, who has no clue about its line or length. Bowled! Jansen departs for 2 off 7 balls.

Anrich Nortje walks in as the new batter.

Nortje settles in by defending the first two deliveries before cutting to the right of the sweeper for a couple of runs. The batters manage four singles as well, and a wicket also falls in the over. After 16 overs, South Africa are 81 for 7.

Hardik Pandya returns to the attack. Aiden Markram pulls one cleanly between deep midwicket and long-on for a couple. Hes then beaten by a sharp delivery before whipping one past long-on for a single. Nortje rotates strike with a run of his own. Markram caps the over in style, launching a huge six to end it. Eleven runs come from the over, lifting South Africa to 92 for 7 after 17 overs.

20:17

Varun reaches 50 T20I scalps, SA 6 down

SA 69-6 (14 Ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Shivam Dube continues. Donovan Ferreira nudges one to midwicket for a single. Markram drives to long-off, but Arshdeep Singh puts it down -- India's second dropped catch of the night. A reminder that chances against Ferreira are costly, given how dangerous he can be. Markram then works one to long-on for another run. Ferreira responds by slamming a boundary and follows it up with a single. Nine runs come from the over, taking South Africa to 67 for 5 after 13 overs.

Varun Chakravarthy returns -- and strikes immediately. Ferreira cuts one to long-on for a single. Markram is then struck on the pad, with a leg bye added. Next ball -- bowled! The mystery spinner knocks over Ferreira, removing the danger man.

Varun claims his 50th T20I wicket as Ferreira departs for 20 off 15 balls.

Marco Jansen is the new batter.

20:07

Bowled! Dube strikes immediately

SA 58-5 (12 Ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Shivam Dube to Corbin Bosch -- bowled! Dube strikes immediately, crashing the leg stump out of the ground. Bosch departs for 4 off 9 balls, and India tighten their grip.

Donovan Ferreira is the new batter. He drives a length delivery straight down the ground but cant beat the fielder. He then jabs one to point for no run before flicking to deep fine leg for a couple.

Ferreira follows that with a drive to deep backward point for another two. Four runs and a wicket come from the over, and after 11 overs South Africa are 48 for 5.

Kuldeep Yadav comes into the attack. Markram and Ferreira rotate strike with singles. Ferreira then launches a huge six, clearing the ropes with ease, before a single ends the over. Ten runs come from it, taking South Africa to 58 for 5 after 12 overs.

19:56

Markram, Bosch dig in after wickets

SA 44-4 (10 Ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Varun Chakravarthy comes into the attack. Aiden Markram and the new batter, Corbin Bosch, exchange singles. 'Catch it!' is the cry, but it falls short of deep midwicket and Markram survives. Another chance almost carries to SKY at slip as Bosch looks to punch through cover with minimal footwork. Just three runs from the over, and South Africa move to 33 for 4 after eight overs.

Hardik Pandya continues. Markram slices one away for a couple before driving the next to deep point for a single. Bosch ducks under a sharp bouncer, then responds with a fine shot that races to the boundary. A dot ball ends the over. Eight runs come off it, taking South Africa to 41 for 4 after nine overs.

Varun returns. Bosch punches through cover for a single. Markram defends before playing a square drive to deep point for another run. Bosch then gets a reprieve -- Abhishek Sharma at midwicket gets his body behind the ball, but the replay shows it's a drop. The batters manage a single off the next, and Markram defends the last ball.

Three more runs added, South Africa reach 44 for 4 after 10 overs, and drinks are called.

19:54

Hardik joins 100-wicket club

SA 30-4 (7 Ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Harshit Rana continues, and Aiden Markram welcomes him with a boundary. He then drives the next delivery to point for a single. Tristan Stubbs pushes one towards cover but finds the fielder, before turning one to square leg for a run. Markram caps the over with another boundary and a single to finish it off. 11 runs come from the over, taking South Africa to 25 for 3 after six overs.

Hardik Pandya comes on immediately after the Powerplay. Markram starts cautiously, defending the first ball before picking up a single. Stubbs pulls one away for two, followed by a couple more runs.

Then the breakthrough -- edged and taken! A thick outside edge flies through to Jitesh Sharma, who takes a comfortable catch behind the stumps. Hardik strikes in his first over to claim his 100th T20I wicket. Stubbs departs for 9 off 13 balls, and India continue to dominate the field.

19:36

Rana dismisses Brevis; SA in trouble

SA 14-3 (5 Ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Arshdeep continues, with Dewald Brevis defending cautiously. India goes for a review for an LBW -- SKY takes it with just 1 second left on the timer, but it's a huge inside edge. Review wasted. Arshdeep bowls another beauty. Markram tries to defend a length ball straight but is beaten. He then slams a boundary -- 5 runs off the over. After three overs, India are 7-2.

Harshit Rana comes back into the attack. Brevis drives, but the inside edge deflects onto the leg stump. Bowled! Brevis departs for 2 off 7 balls, and Harshit pumps his fist after removing another dangerous batter.

Tristan Stubbs is the new man at the crease.

Tristan Stubbs gets off the mark with a single, before Aiden Markram flicks one through point for another run. Stubbs then attempts a flick but fails to get any bat, the ball popping up towards point. Tilak Varma dives but cant hold on, leading to brief confusion as the umpire refers the decision upstairs. The third umpire confirms there was no bat involved, and with no catch taken, Stubbs is rightly given not out.

Four runs and a wicket come off the over. After four overs, South Africa are 11 for 3.

Arshdeep Singh continues. Markram defends before steering the next delivery to point for a single. The batters rotate strike, but two dot balls close out a tight over. After five overs, South Africa move to 14 for 3.

19:15

Arshdeep, Rana rock SA openers

SA 2-2 (2 Ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

Harshit Rana comes in from the other end, with de Kock defending.

LBW! Harshit strikes in his very first over. Both South African openers have now fallen within just two overs. Quinton de Kock lbw b Harshit Rana 1 (3).

Dewald Brevis is the new batsman. He starts cautiously, defending a few deliveries. A bouncer rushes him, and he top-edges a pull -- it lands safely at square leg as Varun Chakravarthy cant get to it.

After two overs, 1 run and 1 wicket have fallen, leaving South Africa at 2-2.

19:09

Arshdeep strikes early, removes Hendricks

SA 1-1 (1 Ovs) vs India | SCORECARD

South Africa's openers, Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks, stride out as Arshdeep Singh marks his run-up. Two slips in place -- and we're underway!

De Kock gets off the mark with a single, aided by a misfield from Shivam Dube. 'Slippery out there,' the commentators note.

Hendricks faces his first delivery -- beaten by a beautiful ball from Arshdeep that moves past the outside edge. Another exquisite delivery shapes away again, teasing the batsman. A huge shout for LBW follows but isn't given. Arshdeep looks confident.

Jitesh appeals to SKY, and India opts for a review. The ball is pitching in line and hitting the stumps -- and it's three reds! Hendricks is out for a duck.

Markram is the new batter and he defends the last two off the over. Just 1 run and a wicket came off the first over.

18:41

Here are the playing XIs

India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram(c), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman

18:36

India win toss, opt to bowl vs SA

India have won the toss and opted to field against South Africa.

Suryakumar Yadav said, 'We'll bowl first. It looks like a good wicket and shouldn't change much. There will be dew later, so bowling first makes sense.'

Axar Patel and Bumrah miss out, while Harshit Rana and Kuldeep Yadav are included in the playing XI.

Aiden Markram, 'We'll assess the conditions upfront and aim for a good score. The boys are excited after playing a couple of games here. We have three changes in the lineup tonight. Bosch, Nortje, and Stubbs come into the playing XI.'

18:08

All eyes on Gill as India's worries grow

Hello and welcome to the coverage of the third T20I at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.

Shubman Gill will be under intense scrutiny when India face South Africa on Sunday. With the T20 World Cup fast approaching, Gill's inability to deliver at the top has emerged as India's biggest concern and a mounting problem for the selectors. The Indian vice-captain's numbers in the shortest format make for grim reading. The scrutiny is sharper because his presence has sidelined Sanju Samson, who smashed three centuries last year.

While captain Suryakumar Yadav has also struggled, the spotlight remains firmly on Gill. As an opener, he is expected to provide early impetus -- something India have conspicuously lacked. Those issues were laid bare in the second T20I, when India faltered badly in a 214-run chase, slumping to a heavy defeat that squared the series 1-1.

The bowlers, too, had an off day, with Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah leaking runs. Yet heading into Dharamsala, one question towers above the rest: Gill's form.

3rd T20I Updates: India crush SA, lead series 2-1

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