IND vs SA 2024: 3 players who flopped and 2 who starred in the 3rd India vs South Africa T20I ft. Sanju Samson & Tilak Varma

India bounced back from their defeat in Gqeberha as they clinched the third T20I against South Africa by 11 runs in Centurion on Wednesday, November 11. With the win, the Men in Blue took a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.

The Proteas won the toss and elected to bowl for the third game running. Although India were rocked early, they recovered well to score well north of 200, a score that was always going to be challenging for South Africa despite friendly batting conditions in Centurion.

On that note, here are three players who flopped and two who starred in the third T20I between India and South Africa.

#5 Star - Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma had been troubled by pace and bounce in the first two T20Is, but he adjusted well to score a fluent half-century in Centurion. He used his crease well to free up the off-side and also put away anything short to the leg-side boundary.

Abhishek needed a score, and he got one. Although his premeditated dance-down to Keshav Maharaj wasn't a dismissal becoming of his ability as a spin-hitter, he did his job for India.

#4 Flop - Rinku Singh

Rinku Singh's T20I form has been rather underwhelming lately. He too found it difficult to adjust to South African conditions in the first two matches, but unlike Abhishek, he couldn't turn it around on Wednesday.

As the South African bowlers targeted him with some short stuff, Rinku labored to eight runs off 13 balls before a pinpoint yorker castled him. The southpaw also looked a bit uncertain against spin, and if not for his painstaking knock, India could've reached a total touching 230.

#3 Star - Axar Patel

Axar Patel had a difficult task, playing as the third spinner in a five-man bowling attack. Despite being up against excellent spin hitters, the left-arm spinner did his job well.

Axar's four overs went for just 29 runs, with his lines and lengths being accurate throughout. He followed the South African batters whenever they gave themselves room and angled the ball in at high speeds that proved tough to counter.

Axar also took a sensational catch on the midwicket boundary to dismiss David Miller.

#2 Flop - Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson's fortunes have blown hot and cold in recent times. Since his back-to-back centuries against Bangladesh and in the first T20I against South Africa, the opener has recorded successive ducks.

In Centurion, Samson was castled by Marco Jansen in the very first over once again. The ball kept a bit low, but certainly not low enough to warrant him missing it altogether on a defensive stroke. India will expect their explosive keeper-batter to make the most of his purple patches.

#1 Star - Tilak Varma

Promoted to No. 3, Tilak Varma was the star of India's batting effort. The youngster notched up his maiden international century to inject a great deal of momentum into the innings.

Tilak played exquisite shots on both sides of the wicket against both pace and spin, manipulating the field well. Although he was troubled at times by balls on his body, he weathered the storm and gave himself room to target the weak areas of the field.