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.
20:22 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs15.5
Score80 - 7

Varun Chakaravarthy to Anrich Nortje, A bit of turn back into the right-hander, a bit short, on middle. Nortje taps it to long on for a single.

20:21 (IST) Dec 14
2
Overs15.4
Score79 - 7

Varun Chakaravarthy to Anrich Nortje, Fractionally wide, short in length, Anrich cuts it to the right of deep point for a couple of runs.

20:21 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs15.3
Score77 - 7

Varun Chakaravarthy to Anrich Nortje, Pushed through, fuller and at the stumps. Anrich Nortje lunges and ekes out an inside edge onto the pads.

20:20 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs15.2
Score77 - 7

Varun Chakaravarthy to Anrich Nortje, On the shorter side, another googly, on top of off. Nortje pushes it off the back foot to cover.

20:20 (IST) Dec 14

Into the tail of the South Africans now. Anrich Nortje is in at number 9.

20:18 (IST) Dec 14
W
Overs15.1
Score77 - 7

Varun Chakaravarthy to Marco Jansen, OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Wickets off successive overs for Varun Chakaravarthy. Googly from Varun, on a nagging length, around the off pole. Marco Jansen is lazy with his footwork and just hangs his bat out to cover the line. He fails to pick the googly and ends up defending outside the line. The ball sneaks past the inside edge to uproot the off stump. South Africa are now 77/7.

20:17 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 15 overs 77 - 6
Runs Scored: 0
111014
  • Aiden Markram 38 (34)
  • Marco Jansen 2 (6)
Shivam Dube3-0-21-1
4
Overs14.6
Score77 - 6

Shivam Dube to Aiden Markram, FOUR! Harshit Rana totally misjudged that and Markram breathes a sigh of relief. Good length, angling back in down the leg side. Markram backs away to create room, opens the bat face, and tries to go inside out over extra cover. But the bat turns in his hands mid-swing. His bottom hand comes off completely and he ends up slicing it high towards deep point instead. Harshit Rana charges in from deep point, then realises too late the ball's sailing back over his head. He sticks out his right hand while running backwards, but can't reach it. The ball drops just inside the boundary rope.

20:16 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs14.5
Score73 - 6

Shivam Dube to Marco Jansen, Excellent glovework by Jitesh Sharma. Lands on the seam and nips in a touch, on a good length, around off. Marco Jansen tries to drag that across with the pull shot, but only manages a thick inside edge. The ball bounces past the stumps and rolls to the left of Jitesh Sharma who dives full-stretch and stops it. The ball is deflected to Kuldeep to short fine leg for a single. 

20:16 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs14.4
Score72 - 6

Shivam Dube to Marco Jansen, Nagging length at a gentle pace, on off, Marco Jansen prods half forward and defends it under the bat. 

20:15 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs14.3
Score72 - 6

Shivam Dube to Aiden Markram, Back of a length, on top of off. Aiden Markram stays leg side and flat bats by dragging it straight down the ground for a single. 

20:15 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs14.2
Score71 - 6

Shivam Dube to Marco Jansen, Full and at 128.7 kph, on the leg stump. Marco Jansen chips it uppishly and towards deep square leg for a single. 

20:14 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs14.1
Score70 - 6

Shivam Dube to Aiden Markram, Targets the pads, does Dube. Markram runs this length ball down to long on for a single. 

20:13 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 14 overs 69 - 6
Runs Scored: 0
11(1LB)0(W)000
  • Marco Jansen 0 (3)
  • Aiden Markram 32 (31)
Varun Chakaravarthy3-0-7-1
0
Overs13.6
Score69 - 6

Varun Chakaravarthy to Marco Jansen, Quicker than the previous ball, short and on middle. Jansen backs away and punches it to the bowler's left. Varun Chakaravarthy's figures read 3-0-7-1 so far.

20:13 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs13.5
Score69 - 6

Varun Chakaravarthy to Marco Jansen, At 94.2 kph, this is on a dragged length, on off. Marco Jansen watchfully blocks it off the back foot. 

20:12 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs13.4
Score69 - 6

Varun Chakaravarthy to Marco Jansen, Flatter one, short and on off. Marco Jansen commits on the front foot and bunts it to the left of the bowler. 

20:11 (IST) Dec 14

Marco Jansen is in next.

20:10 (IST) Dec 14
W
Overs13.3
Score69 - 6

Varun Chakaravarthy to Donovan Ferreira, OUT! BOWLED! 50th T20I wicket for Varun Chakaravarthy. He dishes out a fuller-length delivery, at the stumps, one that spins back in very sharply. Donovan Ferreira goes for a premeditated slog sweep across the line, but misses and hears the death rattle behind him. The ball makes an absolute mess of the stumps. The brewing 25-run partnership comes to an end. Donovan Ferreira perishes after a cameo of 20 off 15 balls. South Africa are 69/6.

20:09 (IST) Dec 14
1lb
Overs13.2
Score69 - 5

Varun Chakaravarthy to Aiden Markram, Slides one onto the pads, on a fuller length. Aiden Markram walks forward and tries to steer it to mid-wicket, but gets beaten on the inside edge. The ball deflects off the front pad and rolls to the right of short fine leg. They get a leg bye.

20:09 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs13.1
Score68 - 5

Varun Chakaravarthy to Donovan Ferreira, Short and wide outside off. Donovan Ferreira backs away and punches it down to long off for a single. 

20:08 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 13 overs 67 - 5
Runs Scored: 0
111141
  • Donovan Ferreira 19 (13)
  • Aiden Markram 32 (30)
Shivam Dube2-0-13-1
1
Overs12.6
Score67 - 5

Shivam Dube to Donovan Ferreira, Extra bounce, on a good length, outside off. Donovan Ferreira is taken aback but he does well to steer it to deep point for a single. 

20:07 (IST) Dec 14
4
Overs12.5
Score66 - 5

Shivam Dube to Donovan Ferreira, FOUR! Brute force! Back of a length, on top of middle. Donovan Ferreira gets fed to his strength and he pulls it ruthlessly through mid-wicket for a boundary. 

20:06 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs12.4
Score62 - 5

Shivam Dube to Aiden Markram, Length ball, on middle, worked down to long on for a single. 

20:06 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs12.3
Score61 - 5

Shivam Dube to Donovan Ferreira, IN THE AIR AND PUT DOWN! Arshdeep Singh does all the hard work, but spills it. Around off, on a good length. It holds on the surface and arrives later than Ferreira expected. He goes through his shot and drags it off the toe end of the bat towards long on. Arshdeep Singh charges in off the ropes and as the ball dips on him, he dives forward, even gets both hands on the ball, but eventually grasses it. A single taken. A huge reprieve for Donovan Ferreira.

20:05 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs12.2
Score60 - 5

Shivam Dube to Aiden Markram, Stump-to-stump, full in length. Aiden Markram presses forward and drives it down to long off for an easy single. 

20:05 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs12.1
Score59 - 5

Shivam Dube to Donovan Ferreira, Full and tailing onto the leg stump. Donovan Ferreira tries to whip it away on the front foot, but the ball goes off the bottom edge to the right of mid on for a single. 

20:04 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 12 overs 58 - 5
Runs Scored: 0
111061
  • Donovan Ferreira 12 (9)
  • Aiden Markram 30 (28)
Kuldeep Yadav1-0-10-0
1
Overs11.6
Score58 - 5

Kuldeep Yadav to Donovan Ferreira, A yard behind fuller length, on the stumps. Donovan Ferreira whips it off the pads to deep backward square leg for a single. 

20:03 (IST) Dec 14
6
Overs11.5
Score57 - 5

Kuldeep Yadav to Donovan Ferreira, SIX! He has picked the bones out of it! Another googly from Kuldeep, full and on off. This time, Donovan Ferreira reads the wrong'un off the wrist and slogs it behind deep mid-wicket for an enormous six. 

20:03 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs11.4
Score51 - 5

Kuldeep Yadav to Donovan Ferreira, A slip in place now. Dishes out a googly, on a fuller length, just outside off. Donovan Ferreira is sucked into the shot on the front foot and pushes at it, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

20:02 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs11.3
Score51 - 5

Kuldeep Yadav to Aiden Markram, Floats it on a length, around off. Aiden Markram backs away and cuts it to the right of deep point for a single. 

20:02 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs11.2
Score50 - 5

Kuldeep Yadav to Donovan Ferreira, Drag-downer, on off, Donovan Ferreira smashes it off the back foot to the left of long on for a single. 50 UP FOR SOUTH AFRICA IN 11.2 OVERS!

20:01 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs11.1
Score49 - 5

Kuldeep Yadav to Aiden Markram, On a flatter trajectory, skidding through outside off, full in length. Aiden Markram steers it off the back foot to widish point for a single. 

20:00 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 11 overs 48 - 5
Runs Scored: 0
0(W)00202
  • Donovan Ferreira 4 (5)
  • Aiden Markram 28 (26)
Shivam Dube1-0-4-1
2
Overs10.6
Score48 - 5

Shivam Dube to Donovan Ferreira, Back of a length, wide on off. Donovan Ferreira cuts it off the back foot, a bit uppish, but wide of point. Harshit Rana from deep third shows great commitment as he runs across to his right and slides to cut it off before the ropes. Two taken. 

19:59 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs10.5
Score46 - 5

Shivam Dube to Donovan Ferreira, BEAUTY! Lands on the seam and nips away from a good length, around off. Donovan Ferreira gets squared up on the defence and is beaten all ends up. 

19:59 (IST) Dec 14
2
Overs10.4
Score46 - 5

Shivam Dube to Donovan Ferreira, Straighter delivery, full and on the pads. Donovan Ferreira clips it behind to deep fine leg for a couple of runs. 

19:58 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs10.3
Score44 - 5

Shivam Dube to Donovan Ferreira, Gentle-paced delivery, nipping away from off. Donovan Ferreira steers it to point off the back foot. 

19:57 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs10.2
Score44 - 5

Shivam Dube to Donovan Ferreira, Back of a length outside off. Ferreira punches it firmly back down the pitch. Dube dives across but can't get a hand to it, and the ball crashes into the stumps at the non-striker's end. Markram's already halfway down, looking for a single. He turns and dives desperately to get back into his crease.

19:57 (IST) Dec 14

Donovan Ferreira is in at number 7.

19:56 (IST) Dec 14
W
Overs10.1
Score44 - 5

Shivam Dube to Corbin Bosch, OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Instant impact for Shivam Dube upon his introduction. He lands it on a good length, and gets the ball to jag back in sharply off the deck. Corbin Bosch is cut in half as he is cramped for space. He tries to work it across the line, but due to the big gap created between the bat and pad, the ball sneaks through it and smashes back onto the stumps behind. Corbin Bosch departs on 4 (9) and South Africa are half side down on 44.

19:53 (IST) Dec 14

DRINKS BREAK. India have bossed up the proceedings until now and they will look to further press on by getting rid of Markram as quickly as possible. Sending Bosch ahead of Donovan Ferreira is a tactical move to deepen their batting a bit, and he will need to support his skipper and avoid any rash shots. With the presence of dew increasing over by over, gripping the ball would be a bit difficult and that's where the likes of Markram will try to exploit those conditions by batting till the end. Shivam Dube is introduced into the attack now. He replaces Hardik Pandya.

19:52 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 10 overs 44 - 4
Runs Scored: 0
101010
  • Aiden Markram 28 (26)
  • Corbin Bosch 4 (8)
Varun Chakaravarthy2-0-6-0
0
Overs9.6
Score44 - 4

Varun Chakaravarthy to Aiden Markram, Short and on middle, Aiden wrists it to mid-wicket.

19:52 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs9.5
Score44 - 4

Varun Chakaravarthy to Corbin Bosch, Drags the length back, on off, Bosch carves it wide of point and picks up a single.

19:51 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs9.4
Score43 - 4

Varun Chakaravarthy to Corbin Bosch, DROPPED! That should have been taken. Varun gives the ball a bit of air, full and outside off, Corbin Bosch drags the sweep and hits it hard towards mid-wicket. It goes at waist height and straight to Abhishek Sharma, who fails to cling on.

19:51 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs9.3
Score43 - 4

Varun Chakaravarthy to Aiden Markram, Tossed up, full and outside off, Markram drives it through covers and crosses over.

19:50 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs9.2
Score42 - 4

Varun Chakaravarthy to Aiden Markram, Sliding onto the pads, on the shorter side, Markram is beaten on the flick and wears it on the front pad.

19:50 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs9.1
Score42 - 4

Varun Chakaravarthy to Corbin Bosch, Cutting back into the right-hander, on a nagging length, Bosch punches it to the left of the bowler for a single.

19:49 (IST) Dec 14
Score after 9 overs 41 - 4
Runs Scored: 0
210140
  • Aiden Markram 27 (23)
  • Corbin Bosch 2 (5)
Hardik Pandya2-0-13-1
0
Overs8.6
Score41 - 4

Hardik Pandya to Aiden Markram, This angles in, on a short of a length, on middle. Aiden stabs it down on the off side.

19:48 (IST) Dec 14
4
Overs8.5
Score41 - 4

Hardik Pandya to Aiden Markram, FOUR! Class written all over it! Not a bad ball by any means, on a good length, on off. Aiden Markram presses forward and drives it on the up with a high elbow. Plays it between cover and mid off for a boundary.

19:48 (IST) Dec 14

STAT - Hardik Pandya is the FIRST India to score 1,000-plus runs and take 100 or more wickets in the T20Is. Fifth player overall to achieve this milestone in this format. 

19:48 (IST) Dec 14
1
Overs8.4
Score37 - 4

Hardik Pandya to Corbin Bosch, Oh, that stayed low! Skidding through, on a short of a length, on middle. Bosch hangs back to deal with it and jams his bat down on the ball to adjust to the low bounce. Ekes out an inside edge onto the back pad, and the ball goes down to deep third for a single.

19:47 (IST) Dec 14
0
Overs8.3
Score36 - 4

Hardik Pandya to Corbin Bosch, A well-directed bumper, over the right shoulder. Corbin Bosch does well to sway away and drop his wrists.

73 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.