After a thumping 101-run victory in the series opener, India will aim to tighten their grip on the five-match T20I series when they face South Africa in the second match at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Thursday.
South Africa, meanwhile, are under pressure to respond after a humbling defeat that exposed several fault lines, particularly with the bat.
Pandya Return Powers India
India enter the contest brimming with confidence after a dominant all-round display in Cuttack. Asked to bat first, the hosts recovered from early setbacks to post a competitive 175 on a tricky surface, thanks largely to the return of Hardik Pandya.
Pandya produced a match-turning knock of 59 off just 28 balls, dragging India out of trouble and underlining his importance as a genuine match-winner. He followed it up with a telling contribution with the ball, capping a near-perfect comeback performance.
Bowlers Dismantle South Africa
India’s bowlers then delivered a ruthless performance, skittling South Africa for a record-low T20I total of 74. Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah set the tone with the new ball before the spinners took charge.
Varun Chakaravarthy, the world’s top-ranked T20I bowler, and Axar Patel claimed two wickets apiece, as South Africa struggled badly against spin and never recovered from the early blows.
Questions Remain For The Hosts
Despite the emphatic win, India are not without concerns. Captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill remain under scrutiny after a prolonged lean patch in the format. The opening combination is also an area of discussion as Gill continues his return after a break.
South Africa Desperate For A Response
For Aiden Markram’s side, the second T20I represents a crucial opportunity to reset. The batting collapse in the opener raised serious questions about South Africa’s approach on turning tracks, with senior players Quinton de Kock, Markram, Tristan Stubbs and David Miller all failing to make an impact.
There will also be focus on young power-hitters Dewald Brevis and Donovan Ferreira, who are expected to play key roles as South Africa look to build experience ahead of the T20 World Cup. While the pace attack of Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi showed promise early, they were unable to sustain pressure once Pandya took control.
Conditions And Tactics At Mullanpur
The Mullanpur surface is known for even bounce and a quick outfield, encouraging strokeplay. Seamers are likely to find assistance early, making the powerplay a decisive phase, while spinners could come into play as the pitch wears. Dew is often a factor at this venue, and the captain winning the toss is expected to opt to bowl first.
Probable XIs: India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah; South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (capt), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje
