New Delhi: India are unwilling to ditch tinkering with their batting line-up and bowling combinations but need victory in the third T20I against South Africa in Dharamshala on Sunday to justify continuation of experimentation.

They crashed to a 51-run defeat in the second match in New Chandigarh, getting bowled out for 162 in 19.1 overs in chase of 214 target, after promoting Axar Patel to No.3 in the batting order.

The spin-bowling all-rounder managed 21 runs in as many balls, but it was far from what the home side as the Proteas squared the five-match series 1-1.

It was only India’s third loss in 17 T20I this year so don’t necessarily require alarm but scrutiny of Gautam Gambhir’s team selections have steadily increased and it wouldn’t diminish of they flounder again in Dharamshala

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