South Africa bounced back with a resounding 51-run victory over India in the second T20 International at Mullanpur, achieving a historic milestone by securing the most wins against India in T20 internationals. The Proteas displayed a superior all-round performance, leveling the five-match series at 1-1 and leaving the Indian team with much to ponder.
The foundation of South Africa’s triumph was laid by their explosive batting display, spearheaded by Quinton de Kock’s phenomenal 90 off just 46 deliveries. This aggressive innings set the tone, and despite some slower periods, a pivotal 63-run partnership between Donovan Ferreira and David Miller in the latter stages propelled the Proteas to a formidable total of 213. India’s bowling attack, expected to benefit from dew, found themselves under pressure, with key bowlers like Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah conceding heavily.
India’s response was a disappointing affair. The decision to bowl first, anticipating dew, proved counterproductive. The top order collapsed under pressure. Shubman Gill was dismissed for a golden duck, setting an ominous tone. Abhishek Sharma managed just 17 runs, and Axar Patel’s stint at number three was ineffective, scoring 21 runs at a below-par strike rate. Captain Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles continued with a score of just five, and Hardik Pandya’s 20 off 23 balls further highlighted the batting unit’s inability to accelerate.
Amidst the batting collapse, Tilak Varma was the standout performer for India, scoring a resilient 62 off 34 balls. However, he lacked substantial support from the other end, underlining the batting fragility. This comprehensive victory not only puts South Africa in a commanding position historically against India in this format but also exposes clear weaknesses in India’s T20 strategy and execution.