In the third T20I held at Centurion, batting first, India faced an early setback when Sanju Samson fell cheaply. However, Abhishek Sharma brought momentum back with a quickfire fifty, displaying some powerful shots to all parts of the ground. His innings gave India a solid start, although he was eventually dismissed by Keshav Maharaj. 

Tilak Varma, promoted up the order to number three, seized the opportunity with an explosive start. He opened with a series of boundaries, setting a fast pace that initially put South Africa on the back foot. As India lost a few wickets in the middle overs, Varma adjusted his approach, playing cautiously but effectively to keep the scoreboard ticking. Regaining momentum in the later overs, he reached his first T20I century, showcasing both skill and composure. Ramandeep Singh added a final burst with a cameo that took India’s total to a challenging 219.

South Africa fought back hard, with solid starts from Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks. Arshdeep Singh made a key early breakthrough, while Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel took crucial middle-order wickets. Heinrich Klaasen’s brisk 41 and Marco Jansen’s stunning 54 off 17 kept South Africa in the game, but India’s bowlers ultimately held their nerve

Arshdeep Singh’s 3-wicket haul took his T20I tally to 92, making him India’s second-highest wicket-taker, just five away from the top spot. With India leading 2-1, the team may look to test its bench strength. Players like Jitesh Sharma, Yash Dayal, and Vijaykumar Vyshak could get the opportunity to showcase their skills.

With their recent strong form, India is favored to wrap up the series, while South Africa will fight to level it in the finale. An exciting finish awaits as India plays its final T20I of 2024 before shifting their focus to the eagerly awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy.