The Indian cricket team beat South Africa by seven wickets in the third game of the five-match IND vs SA T20 2025 series played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday.

Put into bat first, South Africa were bundled out for a modest 117 in their 20 overs, largely thanks to captain Aiden Markram’s 61 off 46 balls under pressure. Arshdeep Singh (2/13) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/11) were the pick of the Indian bowlers.

Needing less than a run-a-ball, India completed the chase in 15.5 overs. Abhishek Sharma, who got India off to a flying start with an 18-ball 35, top-scored for the hosts.

Earlier in the day, India, playing without their premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, struck early and never let South Africa settle. Bumrah opted out of the match due to personal reasons with his participation in the remainder of the series uncertain. 

Arshdeep Singh set the tone with a sharp opening spell, trapping Reeza Hendricks LBW for a duck in the first over.

Harshit Rana added to the visitors’ woes by removing Quinton de Kock for 1 and cleaning up Dewald Brevis’ stumps, leaving South Africa reeling at 7/3.

Aiden Markram stood firm amid the collapse but found little support at the other end as wickets fell regularly. Hardik Pandya chipped in by dismissing Tristan Stubbs to bring up his 100th T20I wicket while Shivam Dube accounted for Corbin Bosch with a sharp nip-backer.

The middle overs belonged to Varun Chakravarthy, whose spell of 2/11 choked the scoring and shattered South Africa’s lower middle order. He also reached the 50 T20I wickets milestone on the evening.

Kuldeep Yadav then cleaned up the tail with two late wickets as South Africa were bowled out off the final ball.

India made a brisk start to their chase of 118, racing to 68 for 1 in their powerplay overs. 

Abhishek Sharma set the tone with a fearless 35 off 18 balls, hammering three fours and as many sixes to put South Africa on the back foot early before falling to a brilliant catch by Markram. 

Shubman Gill departed for a run-a-ball 28 in the 12th over, while Suryakumar Yadav’s poor run of form with the bat continued as he contributed just 12 before departing.

However, with Tilak Varma, India’s hero in the Asia Cup final, anchoring a fairly comfortable chase as the hosts crossed the finish line in the 16th over.

India now lead the five-match series 2-1. After winning the opener in Cuttack by 101 runs, the visitors lost the second game in New Chandigarh by 51 runs.

The fourth match of the series between the two 2024 T20 World Cup finalists will be played in Lucknow on Wednesday.

IND vs SA T20 2025, 3rd match brief scores: South Africa 117/10 in 20 overs (Aiden Markram 61; Varun Chakravarthy 2/11) lost to India 120/3 in 15.5 overs (Abhishek Sharma 35; Corbin Bosch 1/18) by seven wickets.