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The third T20I between India and South Africa will be contested in Dharamsala on Sunday, December 14. The Men in Blue clinched a thumping 101-run win in the series opener in Cuttack, but the Proteas roared back with a 51-run victory in the previous encounter in Mullanpur.
India will know that they need to be at their absolute best if they are to take another lead in the five-match rubber. Suryakumar Yadav and Co. haven't lost successive matches in the shortest format since August 2023, and that's not a record they'll be willing to lose easily.
India’s T20I squad for the South Africa series: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (wk), Washington Sundar, Hardik Pandya.
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South Africa's T20I squad for the India series: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock (wk), Lutho Sipamla, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs.
On that note, here are three things India need to do right in the third T20I against South Africa.
#3 Hardik Pandya must be tried out with the new ball
India have adopted a different strategy in the ongoing T20I series against South Africa. Hardik Pandya, who previously took the new ball, is now being used as a middle-overs enforcer.
However, that's not a role Hardik has performed particularly well. In the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, India will want their star all-rounder to be comfortable bowling at all stages of the innings. Moreover, Hardik's new-ball overs will allow Jasprit Bumrah to have a more flexible role across phases.
Giving Hardik the new ball could be a good idea in the third T20I for a variety of reasons.
#2 India need to fix their batting order
India batted Axar Patel at No. 3 and Shivam Dube at No. 8 in the previous game. Understandably, they were all over the place as the hosts succumbed to a heavy defeat.
In Dharamsala, India must revert to their standard batting order. Suryakumar Yadav must come in at No. 3 if a wicket falls late in the powerplay, while Tilak Varma could be sent in if the team loses one early. Axar must be used through the middle overs, where he can take on spin.
Dube, meanwhile, must also be used ahead of Hardik and Jitesh Sharma. Although the tall left-hander has been out of touch lately against spin, he has a higher chance of succeeding in that phase.
#1 India must find a way to hold Jasprit Bumrah's overs for the 7-16 phase
Dewald Brevis, Donovan Ferreira and David Miller form a power-packed middle order for South Africa. Tristan Stubbs, who was on the bench in Mullanpur, is also expected to return to the fray for this game.
Given the kind of might the Proteas possess, India will need to keep their trump card - Bumrah - for the middle overs if needed. As mentioned earlier, Hardik taking the new ball will facilitate that. Moreover, Axar can also be used against Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram and Reeza Hendricks up front.
Getting through the powerplay with only one Bumrah over done will be a massive win for the Men in Blue.
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