India and South Africa meet for the series decider on December 14, 2025, at Dharamsala.
Series stands perfectly level at 1-1. Match starts 7:00 PM IST at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
India won convincingly in Cuttack. South Africa bounced back with a crushing 51-run victory in Mullanpur.
Momentum has shifted completely to the Proteas. India’s batting is in crisis – captain Suryakumar Yadav has no fifty in 14 innings. Shubman Gill struggles equally.
Dharamsala brings unique challenges. The temperature drops to 12-14°C by match time. Pitch offers extra bounce and seam movement.
IND vs SA 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction Today

Average first innings score is only 137. Chasing teams win 55% of matches here. This IND vs SA 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction Today on 14 Dec guide focuses on captain selection strategy for maximum fantasy points.
Key Stats Table (Top 6 Players This Series)
Here are the standout performers from the first two T20Is.
Top Batsmen
| Player | Team | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tilak Varma | IND | 78 | 39.0 | 142.8 |
| Quinton de Kock | SA | 72 | 36.0 | 158.2 |
| Aiden Markram | SA | 68 | 34.0 | 135.6 |
| Dewald Brevis | SA | 62 | 31.0 | 148.5 |
| Abhishek Sharma | IND | 58 | 29.0 | 138.2 |
| Hardik Pandya | IND | 52 | 26.0 | 128.4 |
Top Bowlers
| Player | Team | Wickets | Economy | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varun Chakravarthy | IND | 5 | 6.85 | 14.2 |
| Marco Jansen | SA | 5 | 7.42 | 16.8 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | IND | 4 | 7.12 | 18.5 |
| Arshdeep Singh | IND | 3 | 8.25 | 22.3 |
| Lungi Ngidi | SA | 3 | 7.88 | 20.5 |
| Axar Patel | IND | 2 | 7.50 | 24.0 |
Key Insights: Tilak Varma is India’s only consistent batter. Varun Chakravarthy leads all bowlers with 5 wickets at the best economy. South Africa’s batting depth shows with four players scoring 60+ runs.
Who is the vice captain of India vs South Africa? Hardik Pandya serves as the vice-captain of the Indian T20I team in this series against South Africa.
Captain / Vice-Captain Decision Tree (5 Steps)
Follow this systematic decision-making process for captaincy selection.
- Step 1: Check Toss Result
If the team wins the toss and bowls first, → Consider the bowler as the captain (Varun Chakravarthy or Jasprit Bumrah). Dharamsala’s 55% chase success rate means bowling first is advantageous. Bowlers get a maximum of 4 overs to impact.
If the team bats first, → Choose the top-order batter as captain (Tilak Varma or Quinton de Kock). They’ll face most deliveries.
- Step 2: Assess Form Index
Calculate recent form: If the player has 3+ good performances in the last 5 games AND playing in a favorable position → Captain potential increases.
Current leaders: Tilak Varma (92/100 form index), Varun Chakravarthy (95/100), Quinton de Kock (88/100).
- Step 3: Evaluate Venue History
If the player has scored 50+ or taken 3+ wickets at Dharamsala previously, → Boost captain consideration.
De Kock played in SA’s 200/3 demolition at Dharamsala. Bumrah loves bouncy tracks. These get priority.
- Step 4: Consider Differential Factor
Small leagues (2-10 people) → Choose the safest captain (Tilak Varma or De Kock).
Grand leagues (100+ people) → Consider differential captains (Varun Chakravarthy or Hardik Pandya) to separate from template teams.
- Step 5: Lock Captain + Vice-Captain Combination
Never pick both from the same discipline (both batters or both bowlers). Optimal: Captain = Batter, Vice-Captain = All-Rounder. This provides insurance across match phases.
Can AI predict Dream11 teams? Yes, AI systems analyze player statistics, pitch conditions, weather data, form trends, and head-to-head records to generate optimized Dream11 team suggestions and captaincy recommendations.
Top 5 Captain Candidates (Ranked)
- 1. Tilak Varma (India) – 9.5/10
Only consistent Indian batter with 78 runs at 39.0 average this series. Scored fighting 52 when the team collapsed in Mullanpur. Bats at No. 3, plays most deliveries. Form index 92/100. Safest captain option.
- 2. Varun Chakravarthy (India) – 9.0/10
Leading wicket-taker with 5 wickets at 6.85 economy. Mystery spinner bamboozling everyone. Bowls full 4 overs guaranteed. Dharamsala’s bounce helps his variations. Best bowling captain.
- 3. Quinton de Kock (South Africa) – 8.5/10
Explosive opener with 72 runs at 158.2 strike rate. Loves Dharamsala conditions. Wicketkeeper bonus adds 10+ points. Scored 68 in one innings this series. High ceiling captain.
- 4. Hardik Pandya (India) – 8.0/10
All-rounder with 52 runs plus wickets. Won first T20I with a match-winning performance. Dharamsala’s bounce suits his pace bowling. Vice-captaincy experience helps under pressure. Differential captain for grand leagues.
- 5. Jasprit Bumrah (India) – 7.8/10
World’s best T20 bowler with 4 wickets this series. Had one bad game, but class is permanent. Pace-friendly Dharamsalais are perfect for him. Takes wickets in the powerplay and death. Risky but rewarding captain.
Ind vs sa 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction Today Score: Based on Dharamsala’s average first innings of 137, expect totals around the 145-160 range. The chasing team needs 150-165 for victory.
Top 5 Vice-Captain Candidates (Ranked)
- 1. Hardik Pandya (India) – 9.0/10
Perfect vice-captain. All-rounder provides insurance if the captain fails. Contributes with bat and ball regularly. Even in bad games, scores 20+ and bowls 2-3 overs for a minimum of 30-40 points.
- 2. Tilak Varma (India) – 8.8/10
If you captain a bowler, make Tilak your VC. He’s the only reliable Indian batter. Five consecutive games with 20+ scores. Consistency makes him an ideal safety net.
- 3. Quinton de Kock (South Africa) – 8.5/10
Explosive opener provides high ceiling. If you captain Tilak or Chakravarthy, de Kock as VC balances the team. Wicketkeeper bonus. A strike rate above 155 means quick points.
- 4. Aiden Markram (South Africa) – 8.0/10
South Africa’s captain with 68 runs in this series. Bats at No. 3. Also bowls occasional off-spin. Leadership pressure brings out the best performances. Solid VC choice.
- 5. Marco Jansen (South Africa) – 7.5/10
All-rounder with 5 wickets this series. Took 3 wickets in the last match. Extra bounce at Dharamsala suits his 195cm height. Can score quickly, 20-25 with the bat. Value the VC option.
Can we watch IND vs SA on Jio TV? Yes, Jio TV subscribers with active plans can stream India vs South Africa T20I matches live through Sports18 and Colors Cineplex channels on the platform.
Dream11 Recommended XI (Balanced)
Here’s the complete balanced team for this IND vs SA 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction Today on 14 Dec.
Wicketkeeper (1):
- Quinton de Kock (SA)
Batters (4):
- Tilak Varma (C) – India
- Aiden Markram – South Africa
- Abhishek Sharma – India
- Dewald Brevis – South Africa
All-Rounders (2):
- Hardik Pandya (VC) – India
- Marco Jansen – South Africa
Bowlers (4):
- Varun Chakravarthy – India
- Jasprit Bumrah – India
- Arshdeep Singh – India
- Lungi Ngidi – South Africa
- Captain: Tilak Varma – Most consistent performer for India with 92/100 form index. Scored 78 runs at 39.0 average this series. Only the Indian batter is showing fight. Plays at the crucial No. 3 position. Safest captain choice across all league types.
- Vice-Captain: Hardik Pandya – All-rounder insurance with 78/100 form index. Contributed 52 runs plus wickets this series. Won first T20I with a match-winning performance. Dharamsala’s bounce suits his pace bowling perfectly. Provides safety if Tilak fails.
- Team Balance Reasoning: Four quality seamers exploit Dharamsala’s pace-friendly conditions. Three explosive top-order batters who handle bounce. Two all-rounders provide flexibility with bat and ball. Varun Chakravarthy controls the middle overs. Split of 7 India and 4 SA respects home advantage while acknowledging South Africa’s momentum.
Ind vs SA 3rd T20I Dream11 Prediction Today Match: This analysis suggests South Africa enters with a psychological advantage after their 51-run demolition in Mullanpur, but India’s superior pace attack (Bumrah, Arshdeep) and home conditions at Dharamsala could level the contest.
Prediction & Safe Betting Note
Match Prediction: South Africa wins by 22-28 runs. India’s top-order batting crisis continues. Expected score: SA 156/6, IND 128/8.
Conservative Fantasy Strategy:
For small leagues, stick with proven performers. Captain Tilak Varma (India’s only consistent bat). Vice-captain Hardik Pandya (all-rounder safety). Pick 4 quality seamers who exploit bounce. Avoid risky differentials.
For grand leagues, try differential captains like Varun Chakravarthy or Quinton de Kock. Include 2-3 low-owned players (Jitesh Sharma, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde). Separate from template teams.
Always wait for the toss before finalizing the team. If India bowls first, increase India’s bowlers count to 5. If SA bowls first, load SA bowlers heavily.
Never chase losses by creating multiple risky teams. One balanced team beats ten random teams. Focus on safe picks with proven form rather than gut feelings.
Who won the 3rd T20 match India vs South Africa? The match takes place on December 14, 2025, at 7:00 PM IST at Dharamsala. The winner will be determined after the match is completed.
Disclaimer:
Playing Dream11 involves financial risk and may form addictive habits.
Play only within your financial means, take breaks if you feel compulsion to bet, and treat fantasy sports as entertainment only rather than an income source.
Also Check: