The five-match T20 International series takes a thrilling turn as the action moves to the brand-new Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. Following a shocking 101-run thrashing in the opener, South Africa is truly under the pump. The IND vs SA 2nd T20 on Thursday is not just another match; for the Proteas, it’s a desperate scramble to find their rhythm and prevent the supremely confident Indian side from taking a commanding 2-0 lead.
The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM IST (Indian Standard Time).
For viewers in the USA, the corresponding start times are:
| USA Time Zone | Start Time |
| Eastern Time (ET) | 9:30 AM |
| Central Time (CT) | 8:30 AM |
| Mountain Time (MT) | 7:30 AM |
| Pacific Time (PT) | 6:30 AM |
Teams and Tournament Context
India: The Juggernaut Continues
Suryakumar Yadav’s India is riding high on confidence. Their performance in the first T20I at Cuttack was a masterclass in modern T20 cricket, showcasing resilience and aggression. When they were 48/3 on a challenging pitch, it was the experienced heads of Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel who steered the ship to a competitive 175. The bowlers then delivered a stunning collective performance, bundling the visitors out for their lowest-ever T20I total of 74.
The host nation seems to have embraced a fearless template, with every player expected to contribute to the overall strike rate and impact. The IND vs SA 2nd T20 provides an opportunity for India to test their squad depth or simply consolidate their advantage, likely sticking with the winning combination unless the Mullanpur pitch demands a tactical tweak like bringing in wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav for a fast-bowling all-rounder.
South Africa: The Battle for Survival
Aiden Markram’s South Africa has a massive confidence deficit to overcome. Two consecutive white-ball collapses on this tour paint a worrying picture. The top-order, featuring T20 heavyweights like Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs, simply failed to cope with India’s balanced attack. Â
The Proteas’ primary challenge in the IND vs SA 2nd T20 is mental fortitude. They need their senior players, especially David Miller and Quinton de Kock, to absorb pressure and deliver the explosive innings they are known for. A change in the playing XI, perhaps strengthening the batting with an extra specialist like Reeza Hendricks or bringing in an all-rounder like Corbin Bosch, seems highly likely as they fight for survival in this series.
Head-to-Head Records: A Historical Edge for India
| Statistic | Total Matches | India Won | South Africa Won | No Result |
| Overall T20Is | 32 (Post 1st T20I) | 19 | 12 | 1 |
| Last 5 Encounters | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| In India (T20Is) | 13 (Post 1st T20I) | 6 | 6 | 1 |
India’s decisive win in the first match extends their dominance to a 19-12 lead in the overall head-to-head. While the record on Indian soil remains historically neck-and-neck, India’s current form suggests they have cracked the code to defeat the Proteas in home conditions, a fact South Africa will desperately try to overturn in the IND vs SA 2nd T20.
Key Players to Watch in the IND vs SA 2nd T20
India’s Game Changers
- Hardik Pandya (All-Rounder): The sheer impact of his comeback cannot be overstated. His blistering 59 off 28 balls single-handedly pulled India out of trouble, followed by a crucial wicket. Pandya is the heart of India’s T20 blueprint, offering both the finishing flourish with the bat and key overs with the ball. He’s the man to watch in the IND vs SA 2nd T20. Â
- Shubman Gill (Opener): The vice-captain is under the media spotlight after a quick dismissal in the first match. Gill is a class player, but the need to maintain an aggressive T20 strike rate is immense. A high-scoring surface at Mullanpur offers him the perfect platform to hit his way back into form and silence the critics. Â
- Jasprit Bumrah (Bowler): The world-class pacer brings unparalleled control, especially in the powerplay and death overs. His ability to hit the blockhole consistently or generate disconcerting bounce will be the main challenge to South Africa’s fragile batting lineup.
South Africa’s Hope
- Quinton de Kock (Wicketkeeper-Batter): When De Kock fires, South Africa wins. Period. His early failure in Cuttack set a poor tone for the chase. As a prolific, aggressive opener, he needs to counter India’s new-ball attack and provide the flying start that can mitigate the inexperience in the middle order. Â
- Dewald Brevis (Batter): “Baby AB” has immense potential and is the future of South African power-hitting. The Cuttack pitch didn’t suit his flamboyant style. If the Mullanpur track is indeed flatter, a confident Brevis could unleash the six-hitting that earned him his reputation and inject much-needed momentum into the Proteas’ innings.
- Anrich Nortje (Pacer): The express quick’s sheer pace remains a threat. He needs to translate that raw pace into wicket-taking impact. If he can take out a couple of Indian top-order batters early, he can give South Africa an outside chance of restricting the host’s scoring rate.
Venue and Weather Conditions
The IND vs SA 2nd T20 moves to the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, a venue that is hosting its first men’s international T20.
- Pitch Report: Unlike the sticky, sluggish surface in Cuttack, the Mullanpur pitch is generally expected to be flat and true, favouring the batsmen. The quick outfield and decent bounce suggest a high-scoring encounter is on the cards. With the venue having hosted IPL matches previously, the average first-innings score is around 169 runs, indicating a track where the ball comes onto the bat well. Â
- Weather Forecast: The forecast for Thursday evening is clear, but the temperature will drop significantly. The major factor, as with most night games in North India in December, is the dew. The onset of dew is almost guaranteed in the second innings, making it extremely difficult for bowlers, especially spinners, to grip the ball. This heavily tips the advantage towards the chasing side.
Prediction: A Hard-Fought Indian Victory
India is heavily favoured to win the IND vs SA 2nd T20 and take a 2-0 series lead.
Reasoning:
- Pitch Neutrality vs. Momentum: While Mullanpur’s pitch is flatter, which theoretically helps South Africa’s power-hitters, the sheer positive momentum and form of India’s batting unit (Hardik, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel) are too strong to ignore. On a batting wicket, India’s deep lineup is even more dangerous.
- The Spin Factor: India’s spinners, Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel, have South Africa’s number. Even if the dew limits their effectiveness, their ability to choke the middle overs remains superior to their South African counterparts. Â
- Toss Advantage: If India wins the toss, they will almost certainly choose to bowl first, knowing that chasing on a dew-laden pitch is a massive advantage. If South Africa bats first, a target of well over 190 will be required to be truly safe. Given their batting struggles, that seems like a tall order.
India’s all-round superiority and the confidence from the first win will be the deciding factors. Expect the Proteas to show more fight, but ultimately, the IND vs SA 2nd T20 will go to the home side.
Read Also: IND vs SA 1st T20 Analysis
