India and South Africa are set to face each other in the third match of the T20I series at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala, on Sunday, December 14. This match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM IST (19:00 Local Time). Stay tuned with our IND vs SA prediction, team preview, pitch report, player stats and winner prediction ahead of this exciting contest.
The series is now tied 1-1 after two exciting matches. India won the first T20I in style, but South Africa hit back hard in the second. The third match is very important because the winner will take the lead.
India showed they can play well when it counts by winning the first match by 101 runs. Hardik Pandya batted well and the bowlers did their job. But they lost the second match, which means their batting needs to improve. On the hand, South Africa proved they can bounce back. Proteas won the second match by 51 runs with Quinton de Kock scoring 90 and leading the team from start to finish.
Head-to-Head Record: A total of 32 matches have been played between these two sides so far. India has won 19, South Africa has won 12 and one match had no result. In the last five meetings, India won 4 and South Africa won 1.
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India Preview
India is the No.1 T20I team in the world and has been playing very good cricket. Under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav, they have a strong and talented squad. In the first T20I in Cuttack, India completely dominated the game. They scored 175 runs and then bowled out South Africa for just 74 winning the match with ease. It was a one-sided game where India showed their full strength.
In batting, India has many reliable players. Hardik Pandya has made a strong return after injury and scored 59 runs from only 29 balls in the first match, hitting 4 sixes and 4 fours. Tilak Varma scored 62 runs in the second match and showed good focus. Shubman Gill also did well with 60 runs in the first match. Suryakumar Yadav, the captain, is a bit out of form, but Washington Sundar has been performing well with a total of 124 runs in the series.
In bowling, India also looks strong. Arshdeep Singh has taken important wickets with the new ball and is one of the top wicket-takers in the series. Jasprit Bumrah is a world-class bowler who can always break partnerships. Varun Chakravarthy has done a good job in the middle overs with his spin. Ravindra Jadeja has also been very effective, taking 10 wickets so far.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Hardik Pandya | Over 23.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Hardik Pandya smashed 59 off 29 balls in the first T20I and looks in explosive touch. With his current form, he remains India’s most impactful middle-order hitter and is well-positioned to cross this line again.
South Africa Preview
South Africa has played very good cricket in this series. They lost the first match but made a strong comeback by winning the second match in Mullanpur. Under captain Aiden Markram, the team is showing good discipline and confidence. The Proteas have both skill and experience, and they are proving that they can compete with India in every part of the game.
In batting, South Africa has some strong performers. Tristan Stubbs is their top scorer in the series with 163 runs and has been very consistent. Quinton de Kock played an outstanding innings of 90 runs in the second match, which completely changed the game. Senuran Muthusamy has also scored 109 runs and looked solid at the crease. Captain Aiden Markram is in good touch too and can bat anywhere in the lineup.
In bowling, South Africa looks very strong. Simon Harmer is their leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets and has been very effective. Marco Jansen has taken 12 wickets and is bowling with good rhythm. Gerald Coetzee and Lungi Ngidi have also supported well with the new ball. Overall, South Africa’s bowling attack is balanced and dangerous.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Tristan Stubbs | Over 21.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Tristan Stubbs is South Africa’s leading run-scorer in the series with 163 runs and has shown exceptional consistency at No.4. He is well-positioned to cross this line again.
IND vs SA Probably Playing XI
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh.
South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock(wk), Aiden Markram(c), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Marco Jansen, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.
IND vs SA Pitch Report
The HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala is a beautiful ground in the Himalayas and sits at a high altitude, which helps the ball travel faster and gives pace bowlers some advantage. The pitch is balanced and supports both batsmen and bowlers. Batting is usually easier in the first innings and spinners get some help as the match goes on. Fast bowlers do well with the new ball because of the wind and bounce. Teams chasing also have a good chance due to the evening dew, which makes batting smoother.
The weather on Sunday at HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala is expected to be cloudy around 15°C, with only 10% chance of rain, low 34% humidity, and light winds near 5 km/h.
Venue T20I Statistics
| Stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 11 |
| Matches won batting first | 4 |
| Matches won bowling first | 6 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 137 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 128 |
| Highest total recorded | 200/3 (19.4 Ovs) by SA vs IND |
| Lowest total recorded | 0/0 (0 Ovs) by N/A |
| Highest score chased | 200/3 (19.4 Ovs) by SA vs IND |
| Lowest score defended | 59/5 (6 Ovs) by NED vs IRE |
IND vs SA Winner Prediction
This match is expected to be very close because both teams are strong. India has a small edge since they know the home conditions well. They are also the number one T20I team and have a strong batting lineup, which gives them confidence going into this match.
South Africa has also shown that they can challenge India. Their bowlers have done well, and their batsmen have played important knocks. Their last win proved that they can score big and put pressure on India. If their key players continue performing, they can give India a tough fight.
With India playing at home and their spinners likely to get help from the Dharamsala pitch, they have a slight advantage. But South Africa is well-balanced and can win if their main players step up. Overall, it should be a tough and exciting match, with India being the slight favorites because of home support and better recent form.
Our Prediction: India
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