IND vs SA 3rd T20I: Suryakumar Yadav wins toss, India forces South Africa to bat first
India vs South Africa 3rd T20I: Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bowl first as India aim to exploit early conditions against South Africa.
India won the toss and decided to bowl first. Image | BCCI on X
Last Updated: 06.53 PM, Dec 14, 2025
The Indian team will take on South Africa in the third T20I game at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala on December 14. The Men in Blue won the toss and chose to bowl first as there will be a lot of dew in the second innings and bowling will be really difficult. This is an important game for both teams as they can take a lead in the series if they win.
Meanwhile, India have made two changes to the playing XI as Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah miss out and Kuldeep Yadav and Harshit Rana come in. Patel missed out as he wasn’t feeling well. This is a concerning matter for the Indian team since they have missed two of their best players in the team. The Proteas will look to take advantage of the situation and win the game.
Match details
Match: India vs South Africa, 3rd T20I match
Date: December 14, 2025
Time: 7.30 PM IST
Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
Where to watch the India vs South Africa match?
Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs South Africa 3rd T20I match online on JioHotstar, via OTTplay Premium.
Pitch report
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala is known for offering one of the most balanced and visually stunning playing surfaces in India. Located at a high altitude, the pitch generally provides good pace and bounce, making it favourable for fast bowlers, especially in the early stages of a match. Seamers often get movement with the new ball due to the cooler conditions and fresh grass cover.
Teams:
South Africa (Playing XI): Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram(c), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman
India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
What did the captains say?
Aiden Markram: Very cold conditions, so a bit different from Johannesburg at this time of year. But it’s a beautiful venue and it looks like a wicket that could get better as the game goes on. It was a good response. We were well below the mark in the first game, so it was pleasing to see how everyone came back. Tonight is about backing that up and being consistent, which is always a challenge we look forward to. It does look nice. We’ll assess the first couple of overs and then take it on from there. Hopefully we can bat well again and put a competitive score on the board. Have been lucky to play here a few times, day games, night games, it always has a different feel. The boys are keen to put on a show. We’ve made three changes: Miller, Linde, Sipamla are out. Bosch, Nortje, Stubbs are in.
Suryakumar Yadav: We’re going to bowl first. It’s been a good wicket all weekend and I don’t think it’ll change much, but there is a lit tle bit of dew already and we feel it might get heavier later on. So, we’re happy to bowl first. It’s a wonderful place, wonderful people, and a fantastic ground. Hopefully when we bat and bowl, we can give everyone some good entertainment. Every game is important. The way they played in the second game showed the beauty of this sport. What matters most is how you come back, and that’s what we want to do tonight, play our best game, enjoy ourselves, and be fearless. If we stay switched on for all three hours, that will be key for us. It looks like a good pitch. We’ve made two forced changes. Axar Patel misses out as he’s unwell, and Jasprit Bumrah misses out due to personal reasons back home. Harshit Rana comes in, and Kuldeep Yadav comes in.