Last Updated on 18 hours ago by Charbel Coorey

South Africa came roaring back into the T20I series, inflicting their own thumping over India after they copped a heavy defeat in the opening match.

Quinton de Kock led the way superbly, laying the platform for a strong total. Donovan Ferreira, who was particularly outstanding against Jasprit Bumrah, combined with David Miller to ensure the Proteas reached the 200+ score they were on course for.

For India, the defeat is a rare one. It is just their fifth loss in the last 32 completed matches, but the manner of the performance worried fans. The form of Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav, plus the tactical blunder of batting Axar at three, are key areas India need to sort out ahead of the T20 World Cup.

IND vs SA 3rd T20 2025 Possible Playing XIs

Gautam Gambhir and India came under significant criticism for promoting Axar Patel to three in the second T20I. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma should, in theory, occupy positions three and four, but nothing is guaranteed.

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

South Africa could bring Tristan Stubbs back in the XI.

South Africa: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Aiden Markram (c), 3. Tristan Stubbs/Reeza Hendricks, 4. Dewald Brevis, 5. David Miller, 6. Donovan Ferreira, 7. Marco Jansen, 8. George Linde/Keshav Maharaj, 9. Lungi Ngidi/Corbin Borsch, 10. Ottneil Baartman, 11. Anrich Nortje/Lutho Sipamla

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium Dharamsala Pitch Report and Weather

Chasing teams have won four of the five night T20Is at Dharamsala, which is often a fine batting ground. Punjab Kings (236/5) beat Lucknow Super Giants (199/7) with ease in IPL 2025. In 2024, Delhi Capitals hit 213/2 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru thumped 241/7 on this ground.

Since the start of 2024, pace bowlers have taken 33 wickets in all T20s at an average of 27.06 and economy of 10.02. Spinners have picked up 14 wickets at an average of 26.14 and economy of 9.89.

A cold night is forecast with temperatures to drop below 10 degrees. There is the possibility of dew, although mostly cloudy conditions are expected.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for IND vs SA 3rd T20 2025: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top wicket-keeper picks:

• Quinton de Kock showed what he is capable of after getting through his troublesome Arshdeep Singh matchup. The keeper-batter has scored 441 runs in 12 innings against India in T20Is (avg. 44.10, SR 146.51).

Key batter picks:

• Is this the day Abhishek Sharma goes big? He has scores of 17 (8) and 17 (12) this series. Getting through the powerplay can mean a huge score for Abhishek as he still strikes at 208.9 from overs 7-20 in all T20s this year.
• If India bat Tilak Varma in the top four, he can cause serious damage. Tilak has three 50+ scores in eight innings against the Proteas, including two centuries. He was India’s standout batter in the second T20I (62 off 34 balls).
• Dewald Brevis has looked in promising touch but is yet to make the big score in this series. He is South Africa’s leading run-scorer in T20Is this year (431) and is striking at 181.9 against spin in all T20s in 2025.

Top all-rounder picks:

• Hardik Pandya didn’t reach the heights of the first T20I but he remains a top fantasy pick. The all-rounder has 310 runs (avg. 38.75, SR 128.63) and 12 wickets (avg. 34.91, SR 24) against South Africa.
• Marco Jansen is having a tour to remember. He will be key again against Abhishek Sharma as the India opener has been dismissed seven times by left-arm seam in T20s this year.
• Axar Patel should enjoy bowling to South Africa’s right-handers. There is also the chance he bats up the order again which means opportunity in fantasy cricket.

Top bowler picks:

• Can Arshdeep Singh bounce back after poor outing in the second T20I? He has the most wickets in SA-IND T20Is (20) and most wickets on this ground (7). Jasprit Bumrah also rarely has two bad games in a row.
• Varun Chakravarthy continues to produce the goods. He has now bagged 16 wickets in just six T20Is against South Africa, striking every 8.62 deliveries. This includes Aiden Markram three times in 25 balls in T20Is (37 runs).
• Lungi Ngidi has dismissed Shubman Gill twice in this series. The seamer has five wickets in the two matches and is bowling nicely in the crunch overs.

Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams

• Ottneil Baartman was outstanding in the second T20 (4/24). He is striking every 15.1 deliveries in all T20s this year.
• Aiden Markram is a classy player but struggles as captain in white-ball internationals. He averages 21.75 in 33 innings as captain compared to 38.21 in 27 innings when not skipper in T20Is.
• Suryakumar Yadav is having a horror year in T20Is, averaging just 14.35. He has the class, experience and record against South Africa (389 runs, avg. 35.36, SR 160.74) to bounce back. Will this be his day?
• Shubman Gill is also in poor form in T20Is. Will the law of averages work in his favour? He is yet to score a half-century in this format in 2025.
• Donovan Ferreira can be worth a pick as a differential player given his ability to finish the innings well. He smashed 17 off six balls against Jasprit Bumrah in the second T20I, which included two sixes.

Other Stats and Important Matchups

• Head-to-head: 33 matches, India 19, South Africa 13, N/R 1.
• Quinton de Kock has five 50+ scores in 12 T20I innings against India.
• David Miller has the most runs in IND-SA T20Is: 545 runs, avg. 34.06, SR 146.90.
• Varun Chakravarthy vs Quinton de Kock in all T20s: 38 balls, 48 runs, two wickets.
• Arshdeep Singh vs Quinton de Kock in all T20s: 55 balls, 65 runs, five wickets.
• Marco Jansen vs Hardik Pandya in all T20s: 31 balls, 52 runs, one wicket.

IND vs SA 3rd T20 2025 Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams. 

Option 1:

Option 2:

IND vs SA 3rd T20 2025 Match Prediction: Who will win?

India start as favourites but need to get their act together. That being said, I’m backing India to bounce back at home and win.