India vs South Africa 3rd T20I Match Preview – 14 December 2025

Match Details

• Date: Sunday, 14 December 2025
• Time: 13:30 GMT | 18:30 IST | 18:30 Local
• Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
• Series Status: South Africa Tour of India 2025 (T20I Series)
• Live Streaming: JioCinema / Jio Hotstar
• Live Broadcast: Star Sports Network

Match Context

The 3rd T20I of the South Africa tour of India is set to be a high-stakes encounter as both teams enter the match with a series tied at 1-1. South Africa, after a dominant 51-run win in the second match, will be eager to take control of the series, while India will be looking to bounce back and assert their dominance.

Dharamsala, with its high altitude and generally batting-friendly conditions, is expected to favor the team batting first. The previous T20Is at this venue have seen first-innings totals averaging over 200, and the team batting first has won more often than not (57.2%).

Team Form & Strengths

India:

India has been in strong form, with a 4-1 win record in their last five T20Is. Key contributors have been Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma with the bat, while Varun Chakravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah have led the bowling charge.

However, the recent defeat in the second T20I highlighted the need for consistency, especially with the bat. The Indian middle order will be under pressure to fire, and Axar Patel’s all-round contributions may be crucial.

South Africa:

South Africa has shown significant improvement in the series, with Quinton de Kock and Dewald Brevis providing explosive starts and David Miller anchoring the innings. The Proteas' bowling attack, led by Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen, has been clinical, particularly in the death overs.

The Proteas will be confident after their last match win and will look to capitalize on India's recent inconsistency.

Players to Watch

India:

• Abhishek Sharma: India's top run-scorer in 2025 with an average of 43.88 and strike rate of 195.06.
• Varun Chakravarthy: Leading wicket-taker for India in 2025 (30 wickets in 16 games, average 13.7).
• Jasprit Bumrah: India's premier death-overs bowler with an economy under 6.00 in 51% of his international innings.
• Hardik Pandya: The all-rounder can change the game with both bat and ball.
• Suryakumar Yadav: The captain with a flair for the dramatic, often leading from the front.

South Africa:

• Quinton de Kock: The explosive opener who scored a blistering 90 in the second T20I.
• Dewald Brevis: A rising star with the ability to accelerate the innings.
• Lungi Ngidi: The pace spearhead, known for his yorkers and ability to take wickets in the death.
• Marco Jansen: A versatile all-rounder who has impressed with his pace and late-order hitting.
• David Miller: The anchor of the middle order, known for his ability to accelerate.

Pitch & Weather Conditions

• Pitch: Expected to be a sporting one, with good bounce and carry, aiding both batters and bowlers. Early swing could be on offer for pacers.
• Weather: The match is likely to be played in cool conditions, with temperatures ranging between 10°C and 13°C. No chance of rain.

Probable Playing XIs

India:

1. Abhishek Sharma
2. Shubman Gill
3. Suryakumar Yadav (c)
4. Tilak Varma
5. Hardik Pandya
6. Shivam Dube
7. Jitesh Sharma (wk)
8. Axar Patel
9. Jasprit Bumrah
10. Varun Chakravarthy
11. Arshdeep Singh

South Africa:

1. Reeza Hendricks
2. Quinton de Kock (wk)
3. Aiden Markram (c)
4. Dewald Brevis
5. David Miller
6. Donovan Ferreira
7. Marco Jansen
8. George Linde
9. Ottneil Baartman
10. Lungi Ngidi
11. Lutho Sipamla

Match Predictions

• Toss Winner: India
• Predicted Winner: India
• Top Batter Runs Scored: Abhishek Sharma (India), Dewald Brevis (South Africa)
• Top Bowler Wickets Taken: Jasprit Bumrah (India), Lungi Ngidi (South Africa)
• Most Sixes: Hardik Pandya (India), Quinton de Kock (South Africa)
• Player of the Match: Abhishek Sharma (India)

Predicted Team Scores

• Batting First: 190-200
• Chasing Team: 180-190

Key Stats & Insights

• India wins 88% of matches when Abhishek Sharma scores over 50.
• David Miller faces 31% dot balls in his career, making him a dangerous run-scorer.
• Kuldeep Yadav takes more than 3 wickets in 30% of his appearances.
• Jasprit Bumrah’s economy rate is under 6.00 in 51% of his T20Is.

Conclusion

This match promises to be a thriller, with both teams eager to take control of the series. India's depth in batting and bowling gives them a slight edge, but South Africa's explosive start and death-overs experience could swing the game in their favor. The toss could be decisive, and whoever wins it may choose to bat first and set a daunting total on a pitch that favors big scores.

Final Prediction: India to win the match.
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