The series is 1-1 after two matches.
The IND vs SA series, after two games, is levelled 1-1. Coming into the 3rd T20I at Dharamsala, the spin all-rounder, Axar Patel, will not be featuring in the playing XI for India. Instead, birthday boy Kuldeep Yadav is given a chance in the line-up.
At the coin toss, Suryakumar Yadav called heads, won, and chose to bowl first. The dew factor will come into play, which would’ve influenced the decision.
However, the India captain mentioned two changes going into the 3rd T20I. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel miss out of the action today. The all-rounder has fallen ill, marking his absence. Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm spinner who can bat, will replace the Gujarat all-rounder.
Find out why Jasprit Bumrah is not playing in this match.
In the two games so far, Axar managed a total of 44 runs and picked up three wickets. While his contribution was vital, it will be interesting to see how Kuldeep fits into the playing combination. Undoubtedly, given the T20 World Cup 2026 in mind, Team India will be keen to try their options for the home ICC event.
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (w), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy.
South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (w), Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, and Ottneil Baartman.
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In the see-saw series so far, with both teams sharing a point each, one common factor has been India’s poor batting strength. While all the players are big on paper, some are struggling with form and consistency. Shubman Gill is coming back after an injury, and SKY hasn’t fired in recent times.
India’s No.3 is also a dilemma, with as many as four players being used at that spot. They are Tilak Varma, Surya, and Shivam Dube. However, in the first match, Axar Patel had walked out to bat.
While India might be experimenting for their perfect XI, this match, with the inclusion of Kuldeep, presents a chance for the players to bat at their original positions. Axar is a proper all-rounder, while Kuldeep can hit a few audacious shots. With Axar sitting out, it will force the batters to stay on the wickets longer with no support lower down the order.
Gill, with all the criticism surrounding him, can prove his mettle again. And Tilak can be trusted with India’s No.3 duties again, a spot where he has struck a couple of centuries and usually played better than the rest of the options.
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