A stellar bowling display followed by a fiery start from Abhishek Sharma propelled India to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the third T20 International. The win, held at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, grants India a crucial 2-1 lead in the ongoing five-match series.
South Africa faltered in the face of India’s disciplined bowling attack, collapsing to 117 all out in conditions conducive to seam movement. Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav were the chief architects of the collapse, each picking up two wickets. Aiden Markram was the lone bright spark for the visitors, scoring a determined 61, but he lacked support as the Indian pacers and spinners relentlessly attacked.
Chasing a modest target of 118, India’s innings began with a bang, courtesy of Abhishek Sharma’s aggressive 35 off 18 balls. His fearless hitting in the powerplay set the tone for the chase. Although Shubman Gill (28) and Tilak Varma (25 not out) had to work hard for their runs, Sharma’s rapid scoring ensured the pressure remained on the South African bowlers. Shivam Dube (10 not out) provided a calm finish, sealing the win with ample overs to spare. This emphatic victory underscores India’s strength at home.