IND vs SA 2nd T20I: South Africa outplay India in Mullanpur to level series 1-1

India have now 8 T20Is left to go for T20 World Cup. The form of captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill should be a big concern. Adding to that, Gautam Gambhir's idea of sending all-rounders anywhere he pleases also needs to be rethought. Not so long ago, Washington Sundar batted at No 3 in Test and now Axar Patel has batted at No 3 in a T20I. The logic remains unclear. India will take on South Africa in the 3rd T20I on Sunday in colder Dharamshala.

Lungi Ngidi gets his 2nd wicket as Tilak Varma is the last batter to depart for 62. India are bowled out for 162 as South Africa win by 51 runs to level the five-match series 1-1.

Three wickets in one over for Ottenil Baartman as he removes Varun Chakaravarthy. India lose their 9th wicket as Baartman ends his spell with 4/24.

Arshdeep Singh departs as Ottenil Baartman bags his 3rd wicket. India 162/8.

Ottneil Baartman gets his second wicket as he cleans up Shivam Dube with a perfect delivery. Dube falls for 1 as India lose their 7th wicket for 158.

It was turning out to be a good 18th over with Tilak Varma and Jitesh Sharma adding 15 runs in four balls. But Sipamala had the last laugh as he dismissed Jitesh. The batter top-edged and it was an easy catch for Ottenil Baartman. India lose their 6th wicket for 157 with 57 runs needed off 13 balls.

Marco Jansen completes his quota with 2/25. He gives away just 6 runs in the 17th over to all but win it for India. The hosts need 72 runs off 18 at an almost impossible rate of 24 runs an over.

With two centuries and a half-century against South Africa in the last five innings, Tilak Varma has also hit the most number of sixes against the rainbow nation. He has surpassed Suryakumar Yadav in that feat. 

Most sixes for India vs South Africa (T20Is)

• 26* - Tilak Varma
• 25 - Suryakumar Yadav
• 19 - Sanju Samson
• 16 - Rohit Sharma
• 13 - Suresh Raina
• 13 - Hardik Pandya

Jitesh Sharma has got a lifeline as the bails stay in their place despite the ball clipping the stumps. The bail took a spin but did not fall off. A great escape!

Gautam Gambhir has sent Jitesh Sharma, the finisher, instead of Shivam Dube with 96 runs still needed off 34 balls.

No luck this time. A full-length delivery by Sipamala and as Hardik Pandya tried to go again, he gave away another catch on the next ball. But this time, he was not so lucky as Dewald Brevis took the catch. India now 5 down with 96 runs needed off 34 balls.

Marco Jansen has given Hardik Pandya a crucial lifeline and the crowd is elated. As Hardik tried to go against Sipamala, he gave away a catch but Jansen could not hold on to it.

Tilak Varma gets his half-century off 27 deliveries. He gets to the mark with a six against Lungi Ngidi. But that milestone would be nothing if India lose. India still need over 100 runs. India need a big over but it hasn't come so far. The run rate has climbed over 16 now. 

Hardik Pandya has dug deep and he is the anchorman today while Tilak Varma goes after the Proteas. But South Africa have bowled some excellent overs despite the dew and the match is slipping away from India's hands. India need 120 runs at 15 runs an over.

Tilak Varma is playing another wonderful knock with Hardik Pandya supporting him. At the halfway mark, India are 81/4 with 133 runs still needed off the last 10 overs.

India have now pinned their hopes on Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma, the two Mumbai Indians batters. Hardik played an excellent knock of 28-ball 59 to take India to 175/6 in the 1st T20I.

Axar Patel falls for 21 after playing 21 deliveries. The umpires took the review after Reeza Hendricks took an excellent catch. But the replays showed that it was a clean catch. India have now lost 4 wickets inside the first 8 overs. 

Team India have got 51 runs in the powerplay, the same as South Africa, but they have also lost their three batters. Now, Tilak Varma and Axar Patel are on the crease and will look to rebuild.

Tilak Varma has joined Axar Patel in the middle. He has another big task of lifting Team India from this slump in a big 214-run chase. He has already shown signs with a four and a six.

And the free pass continues based on past records. After the vice-captain's golden duck, the captain does better, but only 5 runs better. Suryakumar Yadav falls for 5 as Marco Jansen strikes again. South Africa were not confident but took a last-minute DRS and the replays showed SKY had edged it to Quinton De Kock. Idia are 32/3 after 4 overs.

Suryakumar Yadav has come to bat at No 4. He is also out of form for India. After the vice-captain's debacle, the captain will look to get back to scoring form. SKY is averaging 15.46 and has no half-centuries in 2025.

Mentor, Yuvraj Singh, would be disappointed. After his student Shubman Gill, another student, Abhishek Sharma, has fallen cheaply. Abhishek who was looking good was dismissed by Marco Jansen in the 2nd over with a shortish delivery. India 19/2 after 2.

And the rotation of batting positions continues. Gautam Gambhir has gone against his own method of sending a right-hander for a right-hander. Instead, he has sent in Axar Patel with a left-hander Abhishek Sharma. What could be the logic here?

With no fifties in T20Is in 2025, Shubman Gill was under pressure. But at his home ground and with his mentor, Yuvraj Singh, present, everyone expected him to deliver. But, Lungi Ngidi had other ideas, he dismissed Gill for a golden duck with a good length delivery. Gill poked it to Quinton De Kock.

India start their chase of 214. Abhishek Sharma makes his intentions clear as he steps down to Ngidi on the first ball itself. With dew coming into play, the target is achievable.

Ferreira and Miller have taken SA to an excellent total here. Last over by Bumrah, nothing seemed to be working as Bumrah conceded 18 in the over. Proteas finish with 213/4. Ferreira scores 30 from 16, Miller 20 from 12.

Bumrah is looking a bit out of sorts. He is hit for three boundaries in the same over, all three by Miller. India will be chasing close to 200 for sure.

Axar Patel has a first wicket here. Brevis is dismissed for 14 from 10. Tilak Varma runs from the boundary and takes an exceptional catch .

South Africa are not slowing down at the moment. Oh, what has happened here. It looks like he is run out, caught out of the crease, and India have a wicket. 
Gone for 90 from 46.

Just for fun, Arshdeep with a record over

Umpire during Arshdeep Singh's over pic.twitter.com/9f40HbTGUn

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) December 11, 2025

Finally after a long while, India has a wicket. Aiden Markram hits Varun for two consecutive sixes, but mistimes one. He is caught by Axar Patel for 29 on long on.

Arshdeep Singh looks nervous and clueless. He bowls seven wides in one over, and no one has a clue what has happened. QDK is putting pressure on Indian bowlers.

The way QDK is batting at the moment, SA should look at 250. Anything under, with dew under lights could be difficult to defend. Considering only one wicket down, SA should really go for it.

De Kock slams 50, SA on top

26 BALL FIFTY BY QUINTON DE KOCK.

- A super fifty by De Kock. pic.twitter.com/HC7m1YO2Ty

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 11, 2025

Quinton de Kock is in form and he has kept things under control from one end as Aiden Markram struggles to hit it big. At the moment, Indian spinners are on top but it won't last long with the dew already coming in.

South Africa score 53/1 in the powerplay with Aiden Markram joining Quinton De Kock in the middle. Varun Chakaravarthy cleaned up Reeza Hendricks after his initial struggles. But De Kock responded in style.

Varun Chakaravarthy, came, saw and conquered Reeza Hendricks. Just when it seemed Hendricks was getting into the groove, he was bamboozled by Varun. South Africa lose their first wicket for 38.

Reeza Hendricks finally opens his stance and goes for a quick pull shot against Jasprit Bumrah for a six. An excellent shot after scoring just 1 off 7 balls. Quinton de Kock ends the over with another six to make it a 16-run over.

Arshdeep Singh concedes the second six of the match, and it's Quinton de Kock who hammers Arshdeep Singh over square leg. Reeza Hendricks opens his account in the third over.

Just two runs off Jasprit Bumrah's first over, including one coming in as a leg-bye. Good powerplay so far for India.

Quinton de Kock goes the aerial route and he gets his first six of the match against Arshdeep Singh. South Africa 8/0 after first over.

Early chance of a run-out goes down. Reeza Hendricks was in trouble if there was a direct hit after a call from Quinton De Kock. But he survived.

With India going unchanged, there is no place for Sanju Samson or Kuldeep Yadav in the Playing XI. 

1. Abhishek Sharma
2. Shubman Gill
3. Suryakumar Yadav (C)
4. Tilak Varma
5. Axar Patel
6. Hardik Pandya
7. Shivam Dube
8. Jitesh Sharma (WK)
9. Jasprit Bumrah
10. Varun Chakaravarthy
11. Arshdeep Singh

Against the norm, mostly, an India captain has won the toss. Suryakumar Yadav has opted to bowl first with the dew coming in. South Africa bat first in Mullanpur in their first match at this venue. India will eye a 2-0 lead.

The super guest of the match, Yuvraj Singh, addresses the team huddle. The two-time World Cup champion is also the mentor to Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.

• TV Telecast: Star Sports Network (India)
• Live Streaming: JioHotstar app and website.
• SuperSport (South Africa) for international viewers. 

The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur hosts its first men's T20I, drawing from 11 IPL 2025 games where teams batting first won six times. The red-soil pitch offers balanced conditions: early bounce and carry for pacers (average first-innings score ~170-175), transitioning to grip for spinners as it slows. A quick outfield aids boundaries, but dew could make the second innings easier. Chasing sides won five IPL matches at this venue. Expect a competitive surface favouring strokeplay once set, with haze and cold (9-23°C) potentially challenging fielding.

Fresh off a clinical demolition in Cuttack, where India's bowlers, led by Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah's twin hauls, routed South Africa for their lowest T20I total, the hosts enter Mullanpur brimming with confidence. Hardik Pandya's return proved pivotal. His blistering unbeaten 59 off 28 balls bailed India out from a faltering top order that managed just 67/3 after 10 overs. Yet, concerns linger over Suryakumar Yadav's lean patch (average 15.07 in 16 T20Is this year) and Shubman Gill's form in T20Is. The vice-captain needs a big score in IND vs SA 2nd T20I to silence his critics.

South Africa, meanwhile, face an existential crisis in batting. Their collapse exposed frailties against spin (Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel claimed four wickets combined), and dew could again tilt the scales toward chasing. Dewald Brevis remains their X-factor, while Aiden Markram must rally a fightback.

This debut Men's international at Mullanpur is not an unknown venue, as it is the home ground of Punjab Kings. It has a balanced surface with red soil offering early bounce. India, unbeaten in four of the last five T20Is against the Proteas, are favorites. But South Africa's desperation could spark a revival. 

Mullanpur Stadium gets a Yuvraj Singh stand as the man himself and Gautam Gambhir inaugurate the stand.

Yuvraj Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur stand unveiled at New Chandigarh Stadium #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/zUGY0kkOIA

— Bharat Sharma (@sharmabharat45) December 11, 2025

However, focus will be on Shubman Gill. His inclusion in the team seemed forced with Sanju Samson doing a good job as the opener. But as Gill is the vice captain, he has his place secured. Now, at his home ground in Mullanpur, he will need to get his T20I form back. In 2025, in 13 innings, he has failed to score a single fifty. He is averaging 26.30 and a strike rate of 143.71. Samson, who Gill replaced as the opener, had a worse 2025. In 10 innings, Samson averaged 18.50 with a strike rate of 120.91. However, since Gill's return, Samson was forced in a middle-order role and as a No 3 on two occasions.

It has been a short turnaround time for both teams with both teams travelling from Cuttack to Chandigarh on Wednesday. Both teams had no practice in Mullanpur and will have to get acclimatised to the conditions quickly.

India have exactly 9 T20Is left to prepare for the T20 World Cup. While the team is settled and has collectively performed excellently since the last T20 WC, there are still a few question marks. 

1. Captain Suryakumar Yadav's form
2. Vice-captain's struggles in T20Is
3. Sanju Samson or Jitesh Sharma: Who is the wicket-keeper in T20 WC?
4. Shivam Dube or Washington Sundar?

Since South Africa chased down 359 in the 2nd ODI, Team India have taken command. They demolished the Protas by 9 wickets in the 3rd ODI and then thrashed them by 101 runs in the 1st T20I. Now, the caravan moves to Chandigarh where India take on Aiden Markram-led South Africa in the 2nd T20I.