India vs South Africa, Highlights, 3rd T20I in Bengaluru, Full Cricket Score: Proteas win by 9 wickets to level series

India captain Virart Kohli said earlier that it's time for experimentation for India as they build up for 2020 T20 World Cup. There are young players on display but one of the biggest experiments was India's choice to bat first in Bengaluru despite winning the toss. The batting failed and bowlers had very little to defend. South Africa were good in all departments. They bowled well and Quinton de Kock led the chase brilliantly with his unbeaten 79. Despite the defeat and the series finishing as 1-1 draw there's no need for India to panic. India will have days when they will need to bat first and that practice is important. Team management should give the current lot a few more games before ringing in the changes. Also, the T20I series is now over and it's time to get ready for Tests which begins from 2nd October. Till then, it's a good bye from our side.

Virat Kohli, India captain: Exactly what we wanted to do. We are going to follow the same template till the World Cup. The mindset is to be flexible. We should be good enough to find the answers. We are willing to experiment as team. We want to learn and improve as a side. SA bowled well. Pitch suited them a lot in the first innings, we did not read the tempo of the innings. It cost us the game there. Chasing is relatively easier in T20s. The squad composition we will try to get it right. We are not playing random people. These players are good enough. It is a young side. We have to give them a little bit of time as team. We want to go to World Cup with best combination. 

Quinton de Kock, winning captain: I think we kept it nice and simple with the ball with bowlers hitting the good length. Beuran came in and bowled really well and read the situation right tonight. We fixed one of two things quickly with the ball from the last game.

Quinton de Kock is the Player of the Series

Beuran Hendricks: It was one of those were things worked for me, so used my opportunity well. Lot of hardwork put in behind the scene, so happy with that. Normally I don't look at the pitch while warming up. Consistency is the key.

Beuran Hendricks is the Man of the Match for his figures of 4-0-14-2

I'd mentioned at the start of the game that Kohli's brave, eye-on-the-future move at the toss could come into questioning depending on the result. But the toss almost became a non-issue in the final calculations, didn't it? The idea was to put some pressure on the batsmen to set a score, which would then put some pressure on the bowlers to defend in tough circumstances - but a rare total off-day with the bat meant there was nothing really left for the bowlers to fight with. Too early to make any assessments on any real factor - two games at the start of a 25-game period is no time to think decisively about anything. I'd expect the same setup to be given a few more cracks, at least for the visits of Bangladesh and West Indies coming up before the end of the year. 

What an uplifting outcome this is for a young, inexperienced Proteas setup facing its first real challenge. Not many would have given them a chance given the makeup of the squad, and the raft of freshers making the cut (there were three debutants in the series-opener) - so to be going away with a 1-1 scoreline is sure to be a boost to de Kock and his new collection. Also a bit of a fillip to carry into the Tests for those staying on in this trip.

Comprehensive, commanding, crushing - words you don't associate with India's defeats at home in any format. They have been steamrolled by South Africa in this series-finale, and the Proteas deserve every bit of the share of the spoils that they are getting. India went into freefall from the time Dhawan was dismissed - 54/1 in six overs, and they managed only another 80 runs through the rest of the innings. They were miles behind the eight-ball at that stage already, and de Kock turned the easy run-chase into an absolute cakewalk with his unbeaten 79. Runs in both games for both de Kock and Temba Bavuma - one on captaincy debut, the other making his maiden T20I bow.

Temba Bavuma: I got my debut when I did not expected. Coaches and selectors showed faith an it was up to me to play well. The intensity and mindset to score is key. I don't have power like a Chris Gayle. I look to hit in the gaps. I surprise (by hitting sixes) every now and then. A lot fo confidence in the young team we have. We can take the confidence from here to Test series.