India’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss in the third T20I at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium proved to be a masterstroke, as the hosts came out firing from the very first over. On a lively Sunday evening, the Indian pace attack, led by debutant Harshit Rana, completely unsettled South Africa during the powerplay and seized early control of the contest.
With Jasprit Bumrah unavailable, all eyes were on Rana, and the young fast bowler delivered in style. He struck gold almost immediately, trapping the experienced Quinton de Kock lbw on the second ball of his first over.
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Just five deliveries later, Rana produced a peach to bowl Dewald Brevis, sending the stumps cartwheeling and pushing South Africa firmly onto the back foot. The emotion in Rana’s celebration reflected not just personal joy, but the importance of those breakthroughs in a high-stakes T20 match.
Baby AB ಗೆ ಪೆವಿಲಿಯನ್ ದಾರಿ ತೋರಿಸಿದ ಹರ್ಷಿತ್ ರಾಣಾ. ❤🔥
📺 ವೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿ | #INDvSA 👉 3rd T20I | LIVE NOW | ನಿಮ್ಮ Star Sports ಕನ್ನಡ & JioHotstar ನಲ್ಲಿ.
[Team India, Harshit Rana] pic.twitter.com/VfTuNCkXCg
— Star Sports Kannada (@StarSportsKan) December 14, 2025
The damage, however, had begun even earlier. Arshdeep Singh set the tone in the opening over by dismissing Reeza Hendricks lbw, giving India the perfect start. Hardik Pandya then joined the wicket-taking spree, inducing a mistimed shot from Tristan Stubbs, who Jitesh Sharma safely caught. Within the powerplay, South Africa were four down, struggling to recover from India’s relentless pressure.
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At the toss, captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed two changes to the Indian XI, with Axar Patel ruled out due to illness and Bumrah missing because of personal reasons. Harshit Rana and Kuldeep Yadav were drafted in as replacements. South Africa, meanwhile, made three changes, bringing back Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, and Tristan Stubbs. Despite the changes, it was India’s intensity and execution that defined the early phase of the match.
