India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series with wins in Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati, but South Africa won the third Twenty20 International, in Indore, to avoid a clean sweep. Here is a combined XI from the series.

Quinton de Kock (wk)

138 runs @ 69, SR 145, HS: 69*; 3c

De Kock came into the series struggling for form, and fell soon in Thiruvananthapuram. In Guwahati, after India set 238 and South Africa became 1-2 and 47-3, de Kock stayed put for his 48-ball unbeaten 69, running singles to ensure David Miller stayed on strike. South Africa fell short, but de Kock – having regained form – blasted another fifty in Indore. As the younger of the two wicketkeepers, he also dons the big gloves.

KL Rahul

108 runs @ 108, SR 129, HS: 57

Rahul got two fifties, different in flavour, in his two outings. In Thiruvananthapuram, he helped India chase a low target after they lost two early wickets. In Guwahati, he got a rapid fifty, helping India get off to a reasonable start.

Rilee Rossouw

100 runs @ 50, SR 196, HS: 100*

Rossouw began the T20I series the same way he started his ODI career: with two ducks. Then he took advantage of the small Indore ground, smashing eight sixes in an unbeaten 48-ball 100 – his maiden hundred in the format – to catapult South Africa to 227-3.

Suryakumar Yadav

119 runs @ 59.50, SR 195, HS: 61

Up against a steep target, Suryakumar hit a six in Indore but fell shortly afterwards. That could well be the sole talking point of yet another predictably devastating series from him. Few were surprised at him clinching the Player of the Series award.

David Miller

125 runs @ 125, SR 236, HS: 106*

South Africa needed 191 runs in 82 balls when Miller came out to bat in Guwahati. Like all batters, Miller responded with a brutal onslaught. Unlike most batters, he did not get out for 47 balls while doing that. His 106 not out, arguably the innings of the series, took South Africa to within 17 runs of the target.

Dinesh Karthik

63 runs @ 63, SR 225, HS: 46

Karthik spent the series doing Karthik things – in other words, he showed up and connected everything without taking time to get his eye in, and ended with a strike rate of 225. An experimental, if desperate, promotion to No.4 in Indore even took him to the brink of a rare fifty.

Deepak Chahar

31 runs @ 31, SR 182, HS: 31
3 wickets @ 32, Econ 8, BBI: 3-24

Playing a full series for the first time since February, Chahar took two wickets inside the powerplay in Thiruvananthapuram and went for six an over when South Africa got 221 in Guwahati. An ordinary night in Indore offset his numbers, but not significantly.

Keshav Maharaj

41 runs @ 41, SR 117, HS: 41
4 wickets @ 19.50, Econ 7.09, BBI: 2-23

The first T20I belonged to the pacers, and the next two to the batters. Yet, Maharaj found a way in each of them. He scored 41 not out from No.8 to take South Africa past a hundred. He took four wickets across the next two matches, conceding 23 and 34 amidst the onslaught. Definitely South Africa’s player of the series.

R Ashwin

No wicket, Econ 6.67

Ashwin did not take a wicket, but was the most economical bowler from either side. In the last two matches, his figures read 8-0-72-0 – nine an over – but they came when South Africa scored at over 11. Just like Maharaj, he stood out amidst onslaughts.

Kagiso Rabada

2 wickets @ 48.50, Econ 8.08, BBI: 1-16

Rabada’s numbers do not look great – unless one takes into account that India amassed over 410 runs across the last two matches. He also took out Rohit Sharma – who typically leads the charge for India in T20Is – early twice in three attempts.

Arshdeep Singh

5 wickets @ 18.80, Econ 11.75, BBI: 3-32

Two matches for Arshdeep, two first overs, five wickets. He did not take another wicket, but he did enough to derail South Africa with his first effort and push them back with his second. He got hit towards the end in Guwahati, but that was probably a one-off.