India vs South Africa 3rd T20I: Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana Lead Bowling Charge in Seven-Wicket Win

India sealed a confident seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the third T20I at Dharamsala on Sunday night to take a crucial 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Chasing a modest target of 118, the hosts were guided home by Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube after early contributions from Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill set the foundation.

Abhishek, Gill Set the Tone in the Chase

India began the chase positively, with Abhishek Sharma providing early momentum. The left-hander scored a brisk 35 before falling, while Shubman Gill chipped in with a steady 28 to keep the asking rate well under control. Despite losing a couple of wickets, India never looked under pressure as the required runs kept coming comfortably.

Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube then took charge, rotating the strike efficiently and punishing loose deliveries to ensure there were no late hiccups in the chase.

Suryakumar Yadav Falls Again Under Pressure

India suffered another setback with Suryakumar Yadav enduring yet another low score. He struck two classy boundaries off Lungi Ngidi but failed to capitalise on the start. Attempting an ambitious scoop over the long-leg region, Suryakumar ended up handing a simple catch, continuing a worrying run of form.

At that stage, India needed just nine runs from 32 balls, leaving the outcome all but decided.

Dube Seals It in Style as India Go 2-1 Up

Shivam Dube ensured a dominant finish, smashing a six followed by a four off Ottneil Baartman to wrap up the chase in emphatic fashion. India crossed the line with seven wickets in hand, underlining their control throughout the match and gaining a vital advantage in the series.

India's Bowlers, Hardik Script History Earlier

Earlier in the evening, disciplined bowling from India restricted South Africa to 117 for all out in 20 overs after the visitors were asked to bat first. Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav were the standout performers, claiming two wickets each to keep South Africa in check.

For the visitors, Aiden Markram played a lone fighting knock, scoring 61 off 46 balls, but found little support from the other end.

The match also saw Hardik Pandya achieve a significant milestone. He became the first fast-bowling all-rounder in the world to complete 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in T20 Internationals, adding another landmark to his career on a memorable night for India.