Dharamsala Drama: Suryakumar’s 92* Steers India to 7-Wicket Win in 3rd T20I, Take 2-1 Series Lead

In a breathtaking high-altitude thriller at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, India seized a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series with a commanding seven-wicket victory over South Africa on December 14, 2025. Chasing 188 on a chilly, dew-soaked pitch under floodlights, India romped home in 19.1 overs, powered by Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 92 off 52 balls (9 fours, 5 sixes) and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s explosive 68 off 38. South Africa posted 187 for 5, built on Reeza Hendricks’ 78 off 48 and Tristan Stubbs’ late 42 off 22, but Arshdeep Singh (3-32) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2-28) choked the middle overs to keep them under 200. This win — India’s 10th consecutive home T20I — puts them one victory away from a clean sweep across formats in the bilateral summer.

The Himalayan backdrop, framed by snow-capped Dhauladhars and a packed 22,000-strong crowd wrapped in blankets, turned electric as Suryakumar launched Rabada over long-on for six to seal the chase. The pitch — a lively black-soil strip with true bounce early, grip for spinners, and heavy dew post-15th over — favored the chasing side. Suryakumar Yadav’s toss win and decision to field first was vindicated by disciplined bowling; Aiden Markram’s aggressive batting approach nearly paid off, but death-over execution faltered. For India, the win was a statement of T20 depth without Rohit and Kohli; for South Africa, another near-miss in the subcontinent. As fireworks lit the sky and “SKY! SKY!” chants echoed, the series now heads to Lucknow with India in the driver’s seat.

India XI
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c & wk), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar

South Africa XI
Aiden Markram (c), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi

Umpires: KN Ananthapadmanabhan & Virender Sharma. Third umpire: Jayaraman Madanagopal.

South Africa Innings: Hendricks’ 78 Sets Platform, But Death Overs Leak 58

South Africa’s innings exploded early. Hendricks and Markram blazed 62 for 0 in the powerplay — Hendricks pulling Arshdeep for six, Markram ramping Mukesh for four. Markram fell for 28 off 18, skying Chakaravarthy’s googly to long-on — 68 for 1 in the 7th.

Hendricks took charge, reaching his fifty off 32 balls with a flicked six off Axar. Bavuma (22 off 15) rotated strike before holing out to deep midwicket off Bishnoi — 108 for 2 in the 12th. Stubbs arrived and accelerated: a reverse-sweep off Chakaravarthy for four, a pulled six off Hardik. Hendricks reached 78 off 48 (8×4, 3×6) before Arshdeep’s yorker cleaned him up — 142 for 3 in the 15th.

Miller (18 off 10) and Stubbs (42 off 22) targeted the death: Miller smashed Mukesh for two sixes, Stubbs lofted Bishnoi over cover. But Arshdeep struck twice in the 19th: Miller yorked, Ferreira run-out for 8 — 180 for 5. Stubbs’ late flurry — 18 off the final over off Hardik — lifted to 187 for 5. India’s bowlers were clinical: Arshdeep 3-32, Chakaravarthy 2-28, Bishnoi 1-35. A dropped catch of Hendricks on 45 cost 33 runs. Markram: “187 was 15 short; dew hurt us again.”

India Chase: Jaiswal-SKY Fireworks, 132-Run Blitz in 11 Overs

India’s reply was a masterclass in aggression. Jaiswal and Abhishek smashed 72 for 0 in the powerplay — Jaiswal launching Ngidi for three sixes in the 4th over (6, 6, 4, 6). Abhishek fell for 28 off 15, caught at deep square off Rabada — 82 for 1 in the 6th.

Suryakumar strode in, and the Jaiswal-SKY show began. Jaiswal reached 50 off 28 balls with a ramped four off Jansen; Suryakumar answered with a helicopter flick off Rabada for six. Their 132-run stand off 68 balls was brutal:

• Jaiswal: 68 off 38 (6×4, 5×6) — fell to Maharaj’s arm ball, stumped — 214 for 2 in the 17th
• Suryakumar: 92* off 52 (9×4, 5×6) — reached fifty off 32 balls, then unleashed

Tilak Varma (12* off 6) joined SKY. Needing 8 off 18 balls, Suryakumar sealed it with a towering six over long-on off Rabada in the 19.1st over — 188 for 3. South Africa’s bowlers leaked: Rabada 1-48, Maharaj 1-38, Jansen 0-52. Dew made spin redundant; two drops (Jaiswal on 32, SKY on 58) proved fatal.

Suryakumar, Player of the Match: “Jaiswal set the tone; I just played my game. One win from the series.”

Series at a Glance & Road Ahead

• Player of the Match: Suryakumar Yadav (92* & 2 catches)
• Series Stand: India 2–1 South Africa
• Stats Spotlight:
• SKY’s 92* — highest T20I score by an Indian captain
• Jaiswal: 3rd fifty in 3 T20Is
• Arshdeep: 8 wickets in series (@ 6.75 econ)
• Dharamsala Special: Coldest T20I in India (12°C at finish)

Markram: “We’re competing, but India’s finishing is world-class. Lucknow is do-or-die.”

Remaining T20Is

1. 4th T20I – Ekana Stadium, Lucknow, December 17 (D/N)
2. 5th T20I – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, December 19 (D/N)

India one win from 3-1 or 4-1 series victory
South Africa need both remaining games to draw level

The T20 summer heats up — next stop: Lucknow.