The Indian cricket team, also known as the Men in Blue, showcased a dazzling performance in Johannesburg on Thursday, December 14, clinching a decisive and formidable victory in the third T20 International (T20I) against South Africa. This comprehensive win by 106 runs allowed India to draw the series 1-1, with the first match having been abandoned due to rain in Durban.
The spotlight was firmly on captain Suryakumar Yadav who shined with a spectacular century, his fourth in T20Is, bringing him level with illustrious hitters such as Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell. His innings provided the spark India needed after an unsettling start which saw them lose two early wickets in the powerplay. Joined by the young Yashasvi Jaiswal, the pair managed to end the powerplay positively and maintained the rhythm even after. While Jaiswal played the role of the aggressor, Suryakumar took some time before finding his groove and exploded with a flurry of boundaries in the 13th over, reaching his fifty in just 32 balls.
Despite losing Jaiswal for a well-made 60, the day belonged to Suryakumar as he continued his assault on the bowlers. The other Indian batsmen seemed to play a peripheral role, as they hit out and got out, but Suryakumar’s batting masterclass propelled the score to an imposing 201. It was a strong total, but given the challenging nature of Johannesburg’s ground for defending, the bowlers had to step up their game.
The response from the Indian bowlers was indeed emphatic. Mohammed Siraj opened up with a pinpoint maiden over and was quickly supported by Mukesh Kumar who claimed the wicket of Matthew Breetzke. South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram looked determined, but Siraj’s lethal throw ran out Reeza Hendricks, halting any momentum the African side hoped to build.
India’s bowlers did not let up, and further pressure mounts on the South African team as they lost Heinrich Klaasen early on as well. Even after the unfortunate twist of Suryakumar’s ankle, which led to Ravindra Jadeja taking over the captaincy, the spine of the South African batting continued to crumble. Jadeja played his part with the ball, getting rid of Markram soon after the powerplay. There was a slight misfortune when an apparent edge off David Miller’s bat went unnoticed due to DRS malfunctions, but even this setback could not deter the Indians.
It was left to the spin wizardry of Kuldeep Yadav to seal the deal. He dismissed Donovan Ferreira just after the batsman had hit a six and continued to tear through the Proteas’ lineup. Jadeja claimed his second scalp, and Kuldeep, celebrating his birthday, fittingly finished proceedings, claiming the final wicket of Miller to complete his second T20I five-wicket haul, becoming only the second Indian, after Bhuvneshwar Kumar, to achieve this feat in T20Is.
South Africa were bowled out for a meager 95, a stark contrast to India’s vibrant 201, underscoring the dominant nature of India’s win. As the T20I series wraps up, the focus will now switch to the upcoming ODIs, commencing at the same venue on Sunday, December 17.
Both teams will have little time to reflect on their T20 performances, as they gear up for the next challenge in what promises to be another riveting contest in the one-day format. The Indian team will depart from this victory with confidence while South Africa will no doubt seek to regroup and retaliate in the ODIs. The stage is set for yet another exciting chapter in the cricketing rivalry between these two nations.