IND vs SA 2025: Top 3 player battles to watch out for in 3rd T20I

The third T20I is scheduled to be played between India and South Africa at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on December 14. The series is level at 1-1 after the hosts won the first match by 101 runs while South Africa won the second by 51 runs, respectively.

Below are the top 3 player battles to watch out for in the third T20I:

1) Marco Jansen vs Abhishek Sharma

Marco Jansen, who has bowled superbly well in the two T20Is so far, will be anticipated to have a hotly-contested duel against Abhishek Sharma. Jansen has dismissed Abhishek once in T20Is so far. The opening batter has only managed to score 26 off 19 balls.

2) George Linde vs Tilak Varma

The second T20I was the first time George Linde bowled to Tilak Varma. Tilak, who was the best batter for India, could score only 12 off 9 off the bowling of the left-arm spinner. It will be interesting to see who dominates the battle between the two lefties in Dharamsala.

3) Jasprit Bumrah vs Quinton de Kock

Although neither of the two have faced each other a lot in 20-over cricket, both are considered as the experienced players from their setup. Jasprit Bumrah had an off day in the second T20I, the same match in which de Kock shone with a 90-run knock.

FAQs:

Q1) Will India make any changes to their XI from the first two T20Is?

Other than the Axar Patel experiment at No. 3 which did not work in the second T20I, it is highly unlikely that India will make any changes to their XI. The loss in Mullanpur was mainly due to lack of execution from certain players and not any other overarching factor.

Q2) How will the pitch behave at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium?

The pitch in Dharamsala will be expected to favour the team batting second. The outfield is also expected to play a part in run-scoring. A high-scoring game could be on the cards.

Q3) When was the last time the HPCA hosted a white-ball international match?

The most-recent limited-overs game played at the venue was the 2023 World Cup league match between Australia and New Zealand in which a whopping tally of 771 runs was recorded across the two innings.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

For more exclusive updates, visit BJSports to access Exclusive News that is only for you, incisive analysis, and updates, and to keep up with all of the latest information on your favorite remarkable cricket players and teams. To ensure you never miss out, join in on the fun right away!