It seems to be a period of experimentation, risk and runs in Indian cricket. The mantra of flexibility – with the batting order as well as bowling in dewy conditions – has been applied consistently as India prepares for tougher conditions ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
However, for India, experiments do not always guarantee success. That reality was underlined under Gautam Gambhir’s watch as India lost their third match in 17 this year. On paper, the defeat should not have raised alarm bells. India won the toss and finished on the losing side for the first time since January.
Normally, such a result would hardly raise an eyebrow. Still, the team – and head coach Gautam Gambhir – find themselves under increasing scrutiny. While some may consider the reaction overblown, the fact remains that many of the problems stemmed from India’s own decisions.
When and where to watch
The third T20I against South Africa starts in Dharamshala at 19:00 IST, live on Star Sports and live on JioHotstar.
India’s bowling lacked a Plan B – or even a Plan C – to face the South African attack amid the early dew at Mullanpur. The situation was compounded by the decision to send Axar Patel at No.3 against a fast attack that showed little intention of giving up easy runs – something the Proteas have ensured throughout the tour, barring a few short spells.
Meanwhile, Dharamshala remains a happy hunting ground for South Africa. They brilliantly chased down 200 at the venue despite Rohit Sharma’s superb hundred. However coach Shukri Conrad made it clear that his party would not fall into the trap chasing pre-established benchmarks.
“I think sometimes you get to a ground where historically the scores are quite high and you feel like you need to pitch at a certain level and then you find yourself in a little bit of trouble.
“So again, we definitely don’t have a specific goal in mind as far as where we want to go as a batting unit. But we’re pretty confident in our all-around game,” Conrad said.
Attempts to continue
For Indian fans hoping for stability, the message from the camp is clear: experiments are here to stay. Tilak Varma who fought bravely at Mullanpur, reiterated the team’s commitment to flexibility despite increasing external demands for clarity.
“Everyone is flexible except the openers. I am ready to bat at No. 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherever the team wants me. Everyone knows the batting order is flexible,” Tilak said.
That leaves fans to brace themselves for either another edge-of-your-seat thriller — or a night that raises even more questions.
Increasing pressure on Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill
Will the real Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill please stand up? This is a question that Indian fans are asking themselves more and more often. Both are among India’s premier talents, but their recent comebacks have been far from convincing.
Gill scored 263 runs in 14 matches at an average of 23.9 and a strike rate of 142.93, while Suryakumar managed only 201 runs in 19 matches at an average of 14.35 at a strike rate of 126.41. For a side led by two batsmen in such poor form, it is easy to worry.
Gill spent considerable time in the nets before the match and worked closely with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. The vice-captain faced criticism for trying to match Abhishek Sharma’s pace instead of playing his natural game.
For Suryakumar, it may be about rediscovering the mindset that once made him the best T20I batter in the world. Robin Uthappa suggested after the second T20I that the captain was protected by the team management. It is now up to him to lead from the front as India look to bounce back from the setback in Mullanpur.
3rd T20I: Dharamshala pitch and conditions
If both teams fire on Sunday, expect a high-octane contest. Dharamshala is traditionally a place where defending totals is tough and the cold temperatures are likely to physically test both sides.
Of the five T20Is completed at the venue, four have been won by the chasing teams. The latest IPL game here saw PBKS batting first on 236, with LSG trailing behind despite making 199.
A running festival seems inevitable – even as fans brace for single-digit temperatures on Sunday night.
3. T20I team news
Neither side is expected to make major changes unless the pitch conditions call for an additional spinner or seamer. India’s combination from the second T20I – the same that won in Cuttack – was not fundamentally flawed.
Meanwhile, South Africa have shown a willingness to rotate, albeit not aimlessly. Conrad reiterated that workload management in view of the 2026 T20 World Cup remains key. Still, the Proteas may be inclined to stick with the winning combination for one more game.
If there are changes, Corbin Bosch could replace Lutho Sipaml, while Keshav Maharaj could start. Lungi Ngidi could also be rested to pave the way for the return of Anrich Nortje.
India Predicted XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
South Africa Predicted XI:
Cock (wk), Aiden Markram (capt.), Stubbs’ Subbs, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, George.
IND vs SA 3rd T20I Prediction
India will be desperate to fight back and organize their plans in this contest. Dharamshala promises runs and the toss could once again play a decisive role.
That said, with South Africa likely to continue to rotate their resources, India may just find the spot they need to hit hard and level the series.
– The end
Published on:
December 14, 2025
