India and South Africa will lock horns in the third and final match of the three-match T20I series on Thursday, December 14. The venue for the clash is the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
The third and final T20I of the series between South Africa and India will be played in Johannesburg on Thursday evening. After the first game was abandoned without a ball bowled, South Africa won the second T20I at St George's Park by 5 wickets and 7 balls remaining (DLS) to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The game starts at 5:00 p.m. local time at Wanderers Stadium.
South Africa's batters made up for their poor bowling performance on Tuesday, but without two of their best bowlers from that game, things may not be easy in this clash. We expect South Africa to be competitive but securing a 2-0 series win will be difficult.
India were on top in the first innings of the second T20I but never gained control of the game at the start of South Africa's innings. That will be the challenge for the guests on Thursday, who will have to show more discipline with the ball if they want to equalize the series.
Match Preview
South Africa (SA) will face India (IND) in the third T20I of the ongoing three-match series at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Thursday (December 14). The first game of the series was canceled due to rain.
In the second game, South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl. India lost their first two wickets for just six runs. Suryakumar Yadavand Tilak Varma added 49 runs for the third wicket before Varma was dismissed for 29 runs off 20 deliveries.
Rinku Singh joined Suryakumar in the middle and had a 70-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Suryakumar managed 56 runs off 36 deliveries, including five fours and three sixes. He was the fastest Indian batsman to reach the 2000-run mark in T20Is. Rinku remained unbeaten on 68 runs off 39 deliveries, scoring nine fours and two sixes. India scored 180 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 19.3 overs before play was suspended due to rain.
Gerald Coetzee was the Proteas' most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 32 runs in 3.3 overs. All other bowlers, except Andile Phehlukwayo, picked one wicket each.
The game was reduced to 15 overs and South Africa had to chase a target of 152 runs to win this game. Reeza Hendricks and Matthew Breetzke had a solid partnership of 42 runs for the first wicket in just 2.5 overs. Breetzke was bowled out for 16 runs off seven deliveries. Hendricks and Aiden Markram combined in the middle to add 54 runs for the second wicket. South Africa lost three more wickets and reached the target in 13.5 overs.
Mukesh Kumar took two wickets for 34 runs in three overs. Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav shared one wicket each. Shamsi won the Player of the Match award. He took the wicket of Suryakumar and scored 18 runs in four overs.
Pitch Report
The New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg could lead to a high-scoring contest. The teams batting first have scored more than 150 runs in seven of the last 10 T20 matches. The average first innings total in the last five T20 matches at this venue was 171 runs. The team that wins the toss could try to bowl here.
Weather Report
After the second T20I was also affected by a rain disruption, there is a better forecast for this game as no rain is expected for the entire scheduled time of this T20I.
Toss Prediction
In five of the last seven T20Is at this venue, the team batting first won the game. Therefore, we assume that the captains will choose to bat first if they win the toss.
Head to Head
South Africa and India have played each other 25 times, with India winning 13 times, South Africa 11 times and losing one of the games. Even after losing their last game, India have a good record in South Africa, having won five of the eight T20 internationals they have played.
Match Prediction
South Africa will go into the game as favorites. Their batters looked in brilliant form in the last game and the Indian bowlers face another tough test on Thursday.
Prediction: South Africa will win the game.
Venue Details
The New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg will host the third and final T20I of the series. This will be India's chance to salvage the series as the hosts hope for a clean sweep. While the average first innings score here is 158 runs, the venue has seen some pretty high totals, including the one where Windies posted 236 runs against South Africa.
Betting Tips
South Africa are still the underdogs according to bookmakers and we find that quite surprising. Perhaps the absence of two of their leading bowlers could have led to that, but even that doesn't change our position. We believe India is the clear underdog here and the tariffs on offer reflect a gap in the market.
India's batting is strong but the bowling line-up is a bit weak. South Africa is definitely more balanced and better adapted to the conditions. Take advantage of the odds offered.
Bet on South Africa to win.
Probable Playing XI
South Africa
Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Aiden Markram (C), Heinrich Klaasen, Tristian Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi.
Reeza Hendricks – The opener is in fantastic form in T20Is with an average of 51.50 and a strike rate of 154.11 from his last 12 innings in the format.
Aiden Markram – The stylish skipper put in an attacking, clean-hitting performance in the second T20I with four fours and a six in his 17-ball 30.
Tabraiz Shamsi - The left-arm wrist spinner always gets his turn on any surface and took the big wicket of Suryakumar Yadav in Tuesday's game.
Andile Phehlukwayo – The 27-year-old bowling all-rounder scored the winning runs with the bat in Gqeberha and will be looking forward to bowling on this fast pitch in Johannesburg.
India Key players
Suryakumar Yadav - The captain hit five fours and three sixes as he hit his 20th score of 50+ in T20Is on Tuesday and also scored over 2000 T20I runs.
Rinku Singh – The 26-year-old middle-order batsman posted his highest T20I score of 68 not out from 39 balls, including 11 boundaries, in the second T20I.
Mohammed Siraj – The opening bowler dismissed the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen at Gqebetha and also produced a lot of edges and beat the bat.
Mukesh Kumar – The 30-year-old right-arm medium-pace bowler has shown strong wicket-taking ability in recent games, dismissing five batters in his last two T20Is.
The Pakistan women's team will face the Bangladesh women's team in the bronze medal match at the 2026 Asian Games on September 22 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.The Pakistan wome
The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons (ABF) will face the Jamaica Kingsmen (JK) in the final of the 2026 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Monday, September 21, at Kensington Oval in Bri
The upcoming third T20I between England (ENG) and Sri Lanka (SL) may seem insignificant at first glance; however, fans should prepare for a thrilling match. The game will take plac
The Jamaica Kingsmen (JK) will face the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) in the second qualifying match of the 2026 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Bar
The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons (ABF) will face the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) in the first qualifying game of the 2026 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Thursday, September 17,
England will face Sri Lanka at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Thursday, September 17, in the second T20I of the three-game series. England currently leads the series 1-0.After the hi
