India vs South Africa Highlights, 3rd T20I: India beat South Africa by 7 wickets in Dharamsala, take 2-1 lead in five-match series
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  • India vs South Africa Highlights, 3rd T20I: India beat South Africa by 7 wickets in Dharamsala, take 2-1 lead in five-match series
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Dec 14, 2025, 22:47:58 IST
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India vs South Africa Highlights, 3rd T20I: India beat South Africa by 7 wickets in Dharamsala, take 2-1 lead in five-match series

India vs South Africa Live Score, 3rd T20I: Hello and welcome to the live coverage of India vs South Africa 3rd T20I. With the series level at 1-1, India and South Africa arrive in Dharamsala for the third T20I, both sides eager to fine-tune strategies ahead of the T20 World Cup. While the opening two games have offered a mix of wins and losses, they have provided important insights into each team’s strengths, weaknesses, and the depth of their squads. India have used the early matches to experiment. Axar Patel has been promoted up the batting order, Jitesh Sharma has been given opportunities at No. 7 and 8, and Hardik Pandya has taken on middle-over bowling duties, while frontline pacers handled most of the powerplay and death overs. These experiments have produced mixed results, leaving India with tough decisions on whether to continue or revert to established plans. The lean patches of captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill add urgency to finalising combinations, with questions around Sanju Samson’s possible return and the use of a three-spinner strategy at the cost of Arshdeep Singh.

South Africa, on the other hand, gained momentum with a win in Chandigarh and Quinton de Kock’s return to T20I form. Yet, the Proteas are still searching for the best combinations. Their lower-order batting remains thin, and the optimal pace attack is yet to be settled. Tristan Stubbs could return, adding depth and balance, but South Africa’s final XI is still a work in progress.

Dharamsala presents an interesting challenge. The HPCA Stadium has not hosted a men’s international fixture since February 2022, and past IPL matches suggest high-scoring games, often favouring sides batting first. Players will be looking to achieve milestones as well: Hardik Pandya is one wicket shy of 100 T20I scalps, Varun Chakaravarthy needs one for 50, and Dewald Brevis is four sixes away from 100 in a single year.

Both teams will use this game not only to claim a series advantage but also to sharpen plans, test combinations, and gain clarity ahead of next year’s World Cup. The cold climes of Dharamsala may not offer easy answers, but they provide a perfect platform to assess players, strategies, and resilience under pressure.
21:41 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs9.3
Score87 - 1

Anrich Nortje to Shubman Gill, A hasty run! Short at 144.8 kph, around off. Gill gets on the back foot and taps it to the left of cover and sets off for a run. Donovan Ferreira is quick to cut it off and get rid of the ball. He releases a flat throw towards the non-striker's end, but misses his shy at that end. Gill gets home safely. 

21:41 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs9.2
Score86 - 1

Anrich Nortje to Shubman Gill, On a back of a length, on middle, nipping in. Shubman Gill presses forward and taps it to cover with soft hands.

21:41 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs9.1
Score86 - 1

Anrich Nortje to Tilak Varma, From around the stumps, this is fired full and slanted down the leg stump line. Tilak Varma is beaten on the flick and is rapped on the front pad. The ball lobs away to the point region and they cross for a leg bye.

21:39 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 9 overs 85 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
100100
  • Shubman Gill 27 (24)
  • Tilak Varma 16 (12)
Ottneil Baartman3-0-23-0
0
Overs8.6
Score85 - 1

Ottneil Baartman to Shubman Gill, On a length, angling on the off pole. Gill prods forward and watchfully blocks it down the pitch. A rather quiet over from Baartman. Just two runs off it. 

21:39 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs8.5
Score85 - 1

Ottneil Baartman to Shubman Gill, BEATEN! A bit of an away movement from a good length, outside off. Shubman Gill just manages to withdraw his bat inside the line to leave. 

21:38 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs8.4
Score85 - 1

Ottneil Baartman to Tilak Varma, Short of a length, outside off. Tilak Varma knocks it off the back foot to deep cover for a single. 

21:38 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs8.3
Score84 - 1

Ottneil Baartman to Tilak Varma, Overpitched delivery, on middle, Tilak gently pushes it back to the bowler off the front foot. 

21:37 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs8.2
Score84 - 1

Ottneil Baartman to Tilak Varma, In-between length, angling outside off. Varma covers the line and bunts it back to the bowler. 

21:37 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs8.1
Score84 - 1

Ottneil Baartman to Shubman Gill, Slightly short and outside off. Shubman Gill plays off the back foot and punches it to sweeper cover for a single. 

21:35 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 8 overs 83 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
11011(1LB)4
  • Tilak Varma 15 (9)
  • Shubman Gill 26 (21)
Corbin Bosch2-0-15-1
4
Overs7.6
Score83 - 1

Corbin Bosch to Tilak Varma, FOUR! Placed to perfection! Bosch bowls on the leg stump line, on a length. Tilak Varma uses his wrists to flick it very fine behind square on the leg side. He beats deep fine leg to his left and picks up a boundary.

21:35 (IST) Dec 14
1lb
Overs7.5
Score79 - 1

Corbin Bosch to Shubman Gill, Cuts back in from middle, on a good length. Shubman Gill gets across to tap it around the corner on the leg side, but misses. The ball slams the thigh pad and rolls into the leg side. They get a leg bye.

21:34 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs7.4
Score78 - 1

Corbin Bosch to Tilak Varma, Short of a good length, on the leg stump line. Tilak Varma hops on the toes and nudges it through backward square leg for a single. India need 40 more runs.

21:33 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs7.3
Score77 - 1

Corbin Bosch to Tilak Varma, Hits the deck hard, on off, Tilak Varma plays it close to the body and blocks it to the leg side. 

21:33 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs7.2
Score77 - 1

Corbin Bosch to Shubman Gill, Just outside off, on a hard length. Gill covers the stumps and steers it through the cover and point gap for a single. 

21:32 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs7.1
Score76 - 1

Corbin Bosch to Tilak Varma, At 143.3 kph, this is banged almost halfway on the strip, on off. Tilak Varma waits back and bunts it behind to the left of the first slip and takes a well-judged single. 

21:31 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 7 overs 75 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
01(1WD)40110
  • Shubman Gill 25 (19)
  • Tilak Varma 9 (5)
Anrich Nortje1-0-7-0
0
Overs6.6
Score75 - 1

Anrich Nortje to Shubman Gill, Around off, on a good length. Shubman Gill leans forward and taps it in front of extra cover. 

21:30 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs6.5
Score75 - 1

Anrich Nortje to Tilak Varma, A good-length delivery on middle, jagging back in. Tilak Varma plays from the crease and tucks it to deep square leg for a single. 

21:29 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs6.4
Score74 - 1

Anrich Nortje to Shubman Gill, Edged again, but didn't carry! Seams away from outside off, on a fullish length. Shubman Gill plays with soft hands on the front foot and gets an outside edge. The ball goes on the bounce towards Reeza at first slip. He gets a bit of a hand to his left and the ball is parried away for a single. 

21:29 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs6.3
Score73 - 1

Anrich Nortje to Shubman Gill, BEATEN! Shapes away from a hard length, on top of off. Gill pokes at it tentatively, but plays inside the line. The ball zips past the outside edge.

21:28 (IST) Dec 14
4
Overs6.2
Score73 - 1

Anrich Nortje to Shubman Gill, EDGED, FOUR! Lucky, very lucky! Nortje slams the deck really hard, on the fourth stump line. It lands and then nips away a touch. Shubman Gill loosely hangs his bat away from his body without any footwork. He gets a thick outside edge that flies between the keeper and the first slip fielder. Reeza Hendricks is standing a bit wide at first slip. He sticks out his left hand on the dive, but it is beyond his reach and the ball races to the fence behind.

21:28 (IST) Dec 14
1wd
Overs6.2
Score69 - 1

Anrich Nortje to Shubman Gill, WIDE! Down the leg side, on a back of a length. Shubman Gill gets inside the line to flick, but misses. Good grab from Quinton de Kock behind the stumps, as he dives to his left. Wided.

21:27 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs6.1
Score68 - 1

Anrich Nortje to Shubman Gill, Nip-backer on a good length, around off. Gill hangs back and steers it to point. Looks to steal a single, but he is sent back by Tilak on a sharp call. 

21:26 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 6 overs 68 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
00(W)4004
  • Tilak Varma 8 (4)
  • Shubman Gill 20 (14)
Corbin Bosch1-0-8-1
4
Overs5.6
Score68 - 1

Corbin Bosch to Tilak Varma, TOP EDGE, FOUR! Fortuitous! Skiddy delivery on a good length, outside off. Tilak Varma swivels on his toes to pull it away, across the line. But the ball takes the top edge and flies over the slip cordon for a boundary on the bounce at deep third. India are 68/1 at the end of the Powerplay.

21:25 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs5.5
Score64 - 1

Corbin Bosch to Tilak Varma, Short and angling away from the batter, Tilak Varma hops on the toes and stabs it straight back at the bowler.

21:24 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs5.4
Score64 - 1

Corbin Bosch to Tilak Varma, Length ball, on middle, punched off the back foot to the bowler.

21:24 (IST) Dec 14
4
Overs5.3
Score64 - 1

Corbin Bosch to Tilak Varma, FOUR! Gets off the mark right away! Outside off at 143 kph, on a fractionally fuller length. Tilak Varma covers the stumps and uses the pace of the ball before guiding it through deep backward point for a boundary.

21:23 (IST) Dec 14

Tilak Varma walks out.

21:22 (IST) Dec 14
W
Overs5.2
Score60 - 1

Corbin Bosch to Abhishek Sharma, OUT! STRAIGHT UP AND TAKEN! A fabulous catch from Aiden Markram and the skipper cannot do anything wrong this evening. On a back of a length, around the off pole. Abhishek Sharma goes for a free-flowing lofted shot over cover, but the ball seems to have held on the surface and arrives late before Abhishek's swing. He mistimes it off the toe end and the ball hangs up for a long time, clearing mid off. Aiden Markram runs over his right shoulder, keeping his eyes locked on the ball and takes a fine sliding catch. Abhishek Sharma departs after a rollicking 35 off just 18 deliveries. India are 60/1, needing another 58 runs to win. 

21:21 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs5.1
Score60 - 0

Corbin Bosch to Abhishek Sharma, Hits the deck hard, on off, Abhishek punches it from the crease to extra cover.

21:21 (IST) Dec 14

It's been one-way traffic since the beginning of the chase and India have already knocked off more than half runs of their target. Corbin Bosch comes into the attack now, replacing Marco Jansen.

21:20 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 5 overs 60 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
640100
  • Shubman Gill 20 (14)
  • Abhishek Sharma 35 (16)
Ottneil Baartman2-0-21-0
0
Overs4.6
Score60 - 0

Ottneil Baartman to Shubman Gill, Moving away in the air, on a good length, in the corridor of off. Gill makes the leave.

21:19 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs4.5
Score60 - 0

Ottneil Baartman to Shubman Gill, On a length, angled in at the sticks, Shubman Gill blocks it out with a straight bat.

21:19 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs4.4
Score60 - 0

Ottneil Baartman to Abhishek Sharma, Baartman switches to around the wicket and this is fuller, around off, Abhishek slices it to deep point for a single.

21:18 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs4.3
Score59 - 0

Ottneil Baartman to Abhishek Sharma, Goes full, around off, Sharma swings for the hills again but fails to connect this time.

21:17 (IST) Dec 14
4
Overs4.2
Score59 - 0

Ottneil Baartman to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Not where Abhishek intended, but he will take it! Closer to the off-stump, leaving the left-hander, on a good length. Abhishek throws his hands at the ball and gets an outside edge that sails over backward point for a boundary.

21:17 (IST) Dec 14
6
Overs4.1
Score55 - 0

Ottneil Baartman to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! All the way! Baartman pushes it across the left-hander, on a nagging length. Abhishek Sharma gets the width to work with, and he takes on the deep point fielder. Flays it over the man in the deep for a six. 50 UP FOR INDIA!

21:15 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 4 overs 49 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
104101
  • Abhishek Sharma 24 (12)
  • Shubman Gill 20 (12)
Marco Jansen2-0-23-0
1
Overs3.6
Score49 - 0

Marco Jansen to Abhishek Sharma, On a hard length, skidding through, on off, Abhishek chops it down in front of cover for a quick single.

21:15 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs3.5
Score48 - 0

Marco Jansen to Abhishek Sharma, A big swing and a miss! Knuckleball from Jansen, full and just outside off, Abhishek does not pick the variation and swings early as he targets the straight boundary. Connects with thin air, does Sharma.

21:14 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs3.4
Score48 - 0

Marco Jansen to Shubman Gill, Miscued but safe! Jansen switches to around the wicket, on a good length, on off and middle. Gill uses his feet and looks to thrash it through the off side. Gets it sliced off the outer half towards deep backward point. The fielder in the deep swoops in, but the ball drops well short of him. They cross.

21:13 (IST) Dec 14
4
Overs3.3
Score47 - 0

Marco Jansen to Shubman Gill, FOUR! Gets it through! At 131.2 kph, a bit too wide, on the shorter side. Shubman feasts on the width and jabs it through covers. He does not quite get it from the middle of the blade, and the ball teases a couple of fielders from the inner ring before touching the boundary cushions.

21:12 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs3.2
Score43 - 0

Marco Jansen to Shubman Gill, Going away off the deck, on a good length, on the off stump. Shubman hangs back and drops it beside the strip on the off side.

21:12 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs3.1
Score43 - 0

Marco Jansen to Abhishek Sharma, Full and on middle and leg, Abhishek pushes it to the right of mid on and sets off for a quick single. Lungi Ngidi puts in a slide and cuts it off.

21:11 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 3 overs 42 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
404200
  • Shubman Gill 15 (9)
  • Abhishek Sharma 22 (9)
Ottneil Baartman1-0-10-0
0
Overs2.6
Score42 - 0

Ottneil Baartman to Shubman Gill, Pitches it up, on middle, Shubman defends it solidly.

21:10 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs2.5
Score42 - 0

Ottneil Baartman to Shubman Gill, More like it from Baartman! With an upright seam, angled in on the off stump. Shubman stays rooted in the crease for the block. Gets beaten on the outside edge as the ball straightens off the deck.

21:09 (IST) Dec 14
2
Overs2.4
Score42 - 0

Ottneil Baartman to Shubman Gill, Keeps it full, on middle and leg, Gill flicks it to the left of deep backward square leg for a brace.

21:09 (IST) Dec 14
4
Overs2.3
Score40 - 0

Ottneil Baartman to Shubman Gill, FOUR! Streaky! Full and wide on off, Gill reaches out and goes hard on the drive. The ball catches a thickish outside edge and flies over the man at short third for a boundary.

21:08 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs2.2
Score36 - 0

Ottneil Baartman to Shubman Gill, Baartman responds with an absolute ripper! Fuller and in the channel, drawing the batter on the front foot. Shubman brings his bat out in front, but the ball nips away to whistle past the outside edge.

21:08 (IST) Dec 14
4
Overs2.1
Score36 - 0

Ottneil Baartman to Shubman Gill, FOUR! Width offered and Shubman Gill cashes in! Short and wide on off, there to be put away. Gill extends his hands and punches it through covers for a boundary.

21:08 (IST) Dec 14

Ottneil Baartman replaces Lungi Ngidi. He took a 4-for in the previous game in Mullanpur. 

21:06 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 2 overs 32 - 0
Runs Scored: 0
1(1WD)041046
  • Abhishek Sharma 22 (9)
  • Shubman Gill 5 (3)
Marco Jansen1-0-16-0
6
Overs1.6
Score32 - 0

Marco Jansen to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Into the stands! Pitched up, moving away in the air, on off and middle. Sharma exposes all three stumps and charges down the track. Carves it over cover for a biggie.

173 More Updates
India vs South Africa Live Score, 3rd T20I: India and South Africa head into the third T20I in Dharamsala with the series poised at 1-1. These early-season clashes, ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup, have given both sides valuable insights into their strengths and weaknesses, providing a mix of reassurance and caution. India have used the first two matches to experiment, promoting Axar Patel up the order, giving Jitesh Sharma chances at No. 7 and 8, and allowing Hardik Pandya to bowl in the middle overs while frontline pacers take the bulk of duties in the powerplay and death. Results have been mixed, and with limited preparation time left before the World Cup, India face pressure to finalise their combinations, especially with captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill experiencing lean patches. Questions remain over Sanju Samson’s potential return and whether India will revert to a three-spinner strategy at the expense of Arshdeep Singh.

South Africa, meanwhile, gained confidence after a strong win in Chandigarh, boosted by Quinton de Kock’s return to form. However, their squad still has unresolved questions. Lower-order batting depth and the ideal pace attack are yet to be fully tested. Tristan Stubbs may return, and the team will be keen to settle on their best XI before the World Cup.

The Dharamsala venue, which has not hosted a men’s international fixture since February 2022, has historically favoured teams batting first, with IPL matches consistently crossing 180 runs. Key individual milestones are also in sight: Hardik Pandya requires one wicket for 100 T20I scalps, Varun Chakaravarthy needs one for 50, and Dewald Brevis is four sixes shy of 100 in a year. Both teams will be looking to sharpen their strategies and assess combinations in the chilly conditions of Himachal Pradesh as they edge closer to the global tournament.