- Shikhar Dhawan top-scored for India with 36 as India saw a big batting collapse in the 3rd T20I vs South Africa in Bengaluru.
- Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja were the joint second-highest scorers with 19 as the team posted 134/9 in 20 overs.
- In reply, SA captain Quinton de Kock remained unbeaten as he guided the team to a 9 wicket win.
The third T20I between India and South Africa is underway with Virat Kohli electing to bat first after winning the toss in Bengaluru.
India lead the series 1-0 after winning the second T20I and despite the skipper announcing after the previous match in Mohali that he would be testing out some new players, Virat elected to play an unchanged XI in his IPL ‘homeground’.
For South Africa, left-arm pacer Beuran Hendricks replaced Anrich Nortje.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan walked out at the top of the innings and the opening pair made 22 runs in 2.2 overs before Rohit was packed off by Hendricks on 9.
Shikhar Dhawan scored 36 before Shamsi got him out in the 8th over and then in walked a familiar – and much debated – sight, Rishabh Pant at number 4. The young Indian keeper has been under pressure with the management, very publicly, making known that he was no more going to be given a long leash if he continued to get out on rash shots.
But even as Pant walked in, he watched as his partner at the other end, Virat Kohli was sent back in just the next over. Rabada got the big wicket and the Indian skipper was out on a 15-ball 9.
India were 73/3 in 9 overs when Shreyas Iyer joined Pant and the partnership lasted just 22 balls before Rishabh Pant sliced on to long-off. Out on 19.
Shreyas Iyer fell to the very next delivery by Fortuin and with Krunal also getting out 2 overs later, India were in trouble at 98/6 in 14.3 overs.
Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya added 29 runs for the 7th wicket but once Jadeja got out, the tail collapsed behind him and managed just 134/9 in 20 overs.
South Africa’s chase started with the openers putting up a solid 76-run partnership in which Hendricks made 28 off 26 and skipper Quinton de Kock smashed 44 off 35.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli took a solid catch to dismiss Hendricks but his counterpart had no plans of slowing down as he raced to his half century.
South Africa’s victory came soon after, as the Proteas equalised the 3-match series 1-1.
The visitors won the 3rd T20I by 9 wickets.
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