India produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat South Africa by seven wickets in the third T20I at Dharamsala, taking back the series lead. Exploiting seam-friendly conditions to perfection, India bowled South Africa out for a modest 117 before chasing the target comfortably, led by an explosive start from Abhishek Sharma.
Arshdeep Singh and Spinners Dismantle South Africa Batting
Put in to bat, South Africa never truly recovered from a disastrous start. Arshdeep Singh, coming off a forgettable outing in the previous match and operating without Jasprit Bumrah in the attack, struck immediately. Using the movement on offer, he trapped Reeza Hendricks lbw with a ball that jagged back sharply, setting the tone for the innings.
Harshit Rana, drafted in as Bumrah’s replacement, added to the chaos. Quinton de Kock missed a straight delivery to be bowled, while Dewald Brevis dragged a wide half-volley onto his stumps, leaving South Africa reeling at 7 for 3 inside four overs. Although Aiden Markram tried to steady the innings alongside Tristan Stubbs, Hardik Pandya removed Stubbs with a delivery that found just enough seam movement.
South Africa’s middle order continued to crumble as Shivam Dube and Varun Chakravarthy applied relentless pressure. Varun’s spell of 2 for 11 in four overs was particularly decisive, as he removed Donovon Ferreira and Marco Jansen with wrong’uns that left the batters clueless. Markram fought a lone battle, compiling a well-made 61 and briefly lifting hopes of a competitive total, but Arshdeep returned to dismiss him in the 19th over. Kuldeep Yadav then cleaned up the tail, ensuring South Africa were bowled out for 117 — at least 20 runs short of what they needed on the pitch.
Abhishek Sharma’s Powerplay Blitz Seals Comfortable Chase
India’s chase was effectively decided in the powerplay, thanks to Abhishek Sharma’s fearless strokeplay. He announced his intent immediately by pulling Lungi Ngidi for six and followed it up with more boundaries against Marco Jansen and Ottneil Baartman. His 35 off just 18 balls gave India early momentum and reduced any pressure from South Africa’s strong seam attack.
The low target allowed Shubman Gill the luxury of time at the crease, while the rest of the batting lineup played cautiously in tricky conditions. Although India lost a few wickets and the scoring slowed after Abhishek’s dismissal, the early damage was already done. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma chipped in with small contributions as India crossed the line with ease.
Ultimately, the match highlighted India’s bowling depth and their ability to adapt quickly to helpful conditions. South Africa, despite Markram’s valiant half-century, were undone by early wickets and relentless spin in the middle overs. With this seven-wicket win, India not only reclaimed the series lead but also underlined their dominance at home in T20 cricket.
