IND vs SA 3rd T20 Pitch Report: Batters or Bowlers — Who Holds the Edge in Dharamshala?

Dharamshala: The HPCA Stadium of Dharamshala, situated amidst the beauty of the Himalayas, will once again witness the thrill of cricket. The five-match T20 series between India and South Africa is tied at 1-1. After India's thumping win in Cuttack, the Proteas made a stunning comeback by 51 runs in Mullanpur. Now the third match is here on 14th December, where both the teams will be eyeing the lead. Cold winds, dew, and altitude—all this together will make the match more interesting.

How is the Dharamshala pitch?

The pitch at Dharamshala is generally considered batting friendly. Runs are easily scored here due to short boundaries, true bounce and height. The pacers may get swing and bounce in the initial overs, but as the pitch settles, the batsmen rule. Spinners may get some turn in the middle overs, but not much. 200 scores have become common here in recent IPL matches. Dew factor is big – in the second innings the ball gets wet and loses grip, so winning the toss and choosing to bowl first can be beneficial. The chasing teams in the last T20 have had a better record.  

How cold is the weather, and is there any possibility of rain?

Cold in Dharamshala on December 14 could trouble both players and spectators. The maximum temperature can drop to 13-14 degrees, minimum to 9-10 degrees. By evening the chill will increase, and dew may be heavy. The good news is that there is no chance of rain – there will be clear sky, the match will be completed without any interruption. Due to cold, players will need extra warm-up and layers. 

Who is ahead in head-to-head?

India is ahead in head-to-head, but South Africa defeated India at this venue in 2015. Good record of chasing teams at the stadium. India's batting weakened in the second match of the series, while the Proteas' bowling was excellent. Will Markram's team repeat the old victory?

What will be the possible playing XI of both the teams?

India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubhman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar/Akshar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (captain), Tristan Stubbs/Reza Hendricks, Dewald Brewis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Marco Jensen, Anrich Nortje/Corbin Bosch, Otniel Baartman, Lungi Ngidi.

There is pressure on form on Shubman Gill and Surya, while all-rounders like Hardik and Miller can prove to be match winners. Will India continue the experiment?