The Indian cricket team, riding high on a 2-1 series lead against South Africa, opted for a cinematic team-building exercise on Monday night. The entire squad took a break from their rigorous schedule to watch the film Dhurandhar, starring Akshaye Khanna and Ranveer Singh, in Lucknow. This recreational outing followed their comprehensive victory in the third T20I at Dharamsala, where they bowled out the Proteas for a mere 117 runs.
Bowling Masterclass in Seam-Friendly Dharamsala
The foundation for the celebratory mood was laid at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. India's bowlers exploited the seam-friendly conditions to perfection. With lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah absent, the new-ball pair of Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana rose to the occasion, claiming three crucial wickets within the powerplay overs to immediately put South Africa on the back foot.
Despite a resilient half-century from skipper Aiden Markram, the visitors' innings never gained momentum. The Indian bowling attack maintained relentless pressure, with all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube chipping in with vital wickets. The innings ultimately fell short by an estimated 20 runs of a competitive total.
Chakravarthy's Spell and Controlled Chase Seal the Deal
The star with the ball was undoubtedly Varun Chakravarthy, whose exceptional spell of 4 overs for just 11 runs and 2 wickets effectively strangled the South African middle order. Notably, one of his victims was Donovan Ferreira, who, alongside Markram, was only the second South African batter to reach double figures in a dismal batting display.
In response, India's chase was set up briskly by Abhishek Sharma's quickfire 35 runs off just 18 balls. Although the middle order witnessed a minor stutter, the team never lost control of the required run rate, cruising to a victory that underscored their dominance.
From Cool Dharamsala to Breezy Lucknow
The team has now shifted base to Lucknow for the fourth T20I, scheduled for Wednesday. The players have traded the cool climes of Dharamsala for warmer, yet still jacket-requiring, temperatures in Uttar Pradesh's capital. The movie outing, attended by the full squad, served as a perfect mental reset and a bonding opportunity ahead of the crucial penultimate match of the series.
With momentum firmly on their side and team morale at a high following the Dharamsala triumph, India will look to clinch the series in Lucknow. The break from cricket, albeit brief, appears to be a strategic move to keep the players fresh and focused as they aim to close out the series against a determined South African side.
