Who won India vs South Africa 3rd T20I today? — Match result & turning points
India bounced back strongly in the third T20I against South Africa in Dharamsala, winning by seven wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to field first. From the outset, South Africa’s batters struggled to settle at the crease as the Men in Blue bowlers struck at regular intervals. The visitors were restricted to 117 all out in 20 overs, with Aiden Markram top-scoring with 61 off 46 balls while the rest of the lineup fell cheaply.
India’s bowling effort was well-rounded, with Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav picking up two wickets each to dismantle the South African batting order.
In reply, India chased down the modest target comfortably, reaching 120/3 in just 15.5 overs. Abhishek Sharma led the charge with a brisk 35 off 18 balls, ensuring there was no pressure during the chase. With the required run rate under control throughout, the Proteas bowlers had little opportunity to make inroads, as India sealed a convincing victory on home soil.
Top batting performance of the match — Aiden Markram
South African captain Aiden Markram was the standout batting performer in the third T20I, playing a lone hand as the rest of the batting lineup faltered. Markram scored 61 runs off 46 balls, striking six fours and two sixes, and showed composure amid a steady fall of wickets at the other end. With no significant contributions from the remaining batters, South Africa were restricted to a modest total, which ultimately proved insufficient against a disciplined Indian bowling attack.
Top Bowling performance of the match – Arshdeep Singh
India left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was the standout bowling performer in the third T20I. He claimed two crucial wickets in his four-over spell, conceding just 13 runs at an impressive economy rate of 3.20. Arshdeep dismissed Reeza Hendricks early and later removed South African skipper Aiden Markram, playing a key role in sealing off the Proteas’ batting innings and putting India firmly in control of the match.
Who won the Player of the Match?
Arshdeep Singh was the standout bowling performer in the third T20I. He claimed two wickets in his four-over spell, conceding just 13 runs at an impressive economy rate of 3.20, a performance that earned him the Player of the Match award. After being taken apart in the previous game, Arshdeep made a strong comeback in this match, turning his fortunes around and playing a decisive role in India’s victory.
Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved
- Reeza Hendricks registered his seventh duck in T20Is for South Africa, equalling Andile Phehlukwayo.
- Arshdeep Singh became India’s leading wicket-taker in T20I powerplays, claiming 48 scalps and surpassing Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
- Hardik Pandya became the third Indian men’s bowler to take 100 T20I wickets, after Arshdeep Singh (112) and Jasprit Bumrah (101).
- Pandya is also the first Indian seamer to achieve the rare double of 1,000+ runs and 100+ wickets in men’s T20Is.
- Varun Chakravarthy became the second-fastest Indian spinner to reach 50 T20I wickets, achieving it in 32 matches and 672 balls, the fourth-fewest balls among spinners globally.
- Tilak Varma became the third Indian player to reach 4,000 T20I runs in the fewest innings, accomplishing the feat in just 125 innings.
- Lungi Ngidi levelled with Kagiso Rabada to become South Africa’s second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is.
What is the next match?
The fourth match of the five-match T20I series will be played on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.
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