SA vs IND (2nd T20I) – Highlights
South Africa’s tour of India continued emphatically as they outclassed the hosts by 51 runs in the second T20I at New Chandigarh. Chasing a formidable total of 214, India’s batting lineup faltered against a disciplined South African bowling attack, leaving fans and analysts questioning their execution under pressure. Quinton de Kock once again stole the spotlight, producing a masterclass of aggressive T20 batting combined with sharp wicketkeeping, earning him both the Player of the Match and Cricinfo’s MVP awards.
SA set the tone early with a blazing start. Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram took calculated risks in the power play, with Markram eventually falling for 29 off 26 balls after giving India a brief glimmer of hope. However, it was de Kock who carried the innings, turning the momentum decisively in South Africa’s favor. His 90 off just 46 deliveries, laced with seven sixes and five fours, highlighted his mastery of pacing a T20 innings while punishing loose deliveries. Donovan Ferreira and David Miller provided excellent finishing support, scoring 30* and 20* respectively, ensuring that South Africa posted an imposing 213 for four at the end of their 20 overs. Extras, including 16 wides, added further pressure on India’s bowlers.
IND’s response began shakily, losing Shubman Gill for a first-ball duck, followed quickly by Abhishek Sharma. Early wickets prevented IND from establishing any stable partnerships. Tilak Varma tried to anchor the innings with an impressive 62 off 34 balls, showing his ability to accelerate and rotate the strike. However, the lack of support from the other end meant India never gained the momentum needed to chase a total of over 200. Jitesh Sharma offered a brief resistance, scoring 27 off 17 balls, but it was never enough to keep India in the hunt.
SA’s bowling was a blend of discipline and variety. Ottneil Baartman emerged as the star with four crucial wickets for just 24 runs, including key strikes in the middle overs. Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi were equally effective, combining pace, bounce, and swing to consistently trouble Indian batters. The mix of spin and pace from their attack ensured India could not settle into any rhythm, and the fielding, anchored by Quinton de Kock, added pressure throughout.
This result leaves South Africa firmly in control of the T20I series, showcasing the depth of their squad and the mental toughness required to dominate in foreign conditions. India will need to reassess both their batting strategies and bowling plans ahead of the final encounter if they are to salvage pride in the series. The match reinforced the importance of starts, partnerships, and finishing in T20 cricket, and underlined South Africa’s ability to execute in all facets of the game.
South Africa vs India Scoreboard
South Africa – 213/4 (20)
India – 162/10 (19.1)
Result – South Africa won by 51 runs
Player of the Match – Quinton de Kock
SA vs IND Playing Eleven
South Africa | Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, Donovan Ferreira, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, Lutho Sipamla, Ottneil Baartman, George Linde |
India | Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah |
