(Image source from: x.com/BCCI)
Jasprit Bumrah’s missing out on the third T20I against South Africa in Dharamsala quickly raised concerns, particularly considering his role as a key player in India’s bowling lineup during this competitive five-match series. The experienced fast bowler was not on the field Sunday, which forced India to rearrange their bowling options for a vital match at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium. During the coin toss, India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav mentioned that Bumrah was not available to play due to personal issues, and Axar Patel was also absent from the game due to illness. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later announced that Bumrah had gone back to Mumbai to handle a family situation, leading to his exit from the team partway through the series.
As reported by PTI, Bumrah needed to return home because a very close family member is currently in the hospital. This meant he had to be there right away, as he focused on this personal crisis. A senior BCCI official, who chose to remain unnamed, noted that Bumrah’s return to the series would depend entirely on how things develop. “If everything turns out okay, he might be back for the fourth or even fifth game in Ahmedabad. But the first priority is the recovery of his family member,” the official explained. Despite Bumrah’s absence, India delivered a strong performance to take a 2-1 lead in the series. After winning the first T20I in Cuttack, India faced a heavy loss of 51 runs in the second match at Mullanpur, making the game in Dharamsala especially crucial. The home team responded with a solid all-round display, limiting South Africa to a total of 117 and successfully chasing that down in only 15.5 overs for a seven-wicket victory.
India’s bowlers made a strong start when South Africa began batting, consistently taking wickets and preventing the visitors from gaining any momentum. Each of the six bowlers who participated in the innings claimed at least one wicket, showcasing the team effort. Debutant pacer Harshit Rana made an impact by quickly getting rid of Quinton de Kock and Dewald Brevis, while Arshdeep Singh made an early mark by successfully overturning an lbw call to eliminate Reeza Hendricks for no runs. With the series now leaning towards India, all eyes are on the fourth T20I scheduled in Lucknow on Wednesday, December 11. It remains unclear if Bumrah will return for the remaining matches, as his availability depends on his family member’s recovery.
