Johannesburg: The cricketing world tuned in eagerly for the third and final match of the T20 series between India and South Africa in Johannesburg, and it didn’t disappoint. The clash, being the decider in the 3-match series, saw Team India opting to bat first. However, the spotlight quickly shifted to opener Shubman Gill, who once again faced a setback in his T20 campaign.
Shubman Gill’s departure, scoring 12 runs off 6 balls, became a contentious issue on social media. The Indian opener was given out LBW by Keshav Maharaj, prompting discussions on the decision-making process. Despite the umpire declaring Gill out, the batsman engaged in a brief discussion with Yashasvi Jaiswal about opting for a review. To the surprise of many, Gill chose not to challenge the decision.
Upon review, it became evident that had Shubman Gill opted for the DRS (Decision Review System), the on-field umpire’s decision would have been overturned. Social media erupted with fans expressing their disbelief and suggesting that Gill missed a crucial opportunity to continue his innings.
“However, the spotlight shifted towards an extraordinary performance by Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav, who played a scintillating innings to score a century. This powerhouse performance led India to post a formidable total of 201 runs for 7 wickets in their allotted 20 overs”.
In response, the South African team faltered, managing only 95 runs in 13.5 overs. The standout performer for India in the bowling department was Kuldeep Yadav, who took 5 wickets for 17 runs in just 2.5 overs. Ravindra Jadeja contributed with 2 wickets, while Mukesh Kumar and Arshdeep Singh claimed 1 wicket each.
“Despite the controversy surrounding Shubman Gill’s dismissal, Team India’s dominant performance secured a resounding victory, winning the match by 106 runs. With this win, the T20 series concluded in a 1-1 draw, with the first match being washed out due to rain and South Africa winning the second encounter. The focus now shifts to the upcoming 3-match ODI series between the two cricketing powerhouses, promising another round of thrilling encounters on the field”.
