The IND vs SA 2nd T20 arrives in Mullanpur on Thursday night with India sitting pretty at 1-0 after a massive 101-run win. The scoreboard tells one story. The batting performance tells another.
India managed just 175-6 in the first match, and their captain contributed only 7 runs before walking back to the pavilion.
Suryakumar Yadav built his reputation on audacious strokeplay and fearless batting. That version has disappeared since he took over the captaincy. The numbers paint a grim picture.
His average has dropped, his strike rate looks ordinary, and the confidence that once defined his game seems to have evaporated. Our World Cup title defense starts right now. This series is the first real step.
Shubman Gill faces similar demons. The talented opener has struggled to find his rhythm in this format since returning during the Asia Cup in September. The team management continues to show faith, but patience is running thin in international cricket.
The IND vs SA T20 series presents both players with a golden opportunity to silence their critics. Mullanpur’s batting-friendly conditions should help, but only if they can get their heads in the right place.
The match begins at 7:00 PM IST at a venue known for high scores and entertainment. If India’s top order misfires again on this flat pitch, the questions will get louder and harder to ignore.
Table of Contents
IND vs SA 2nd T20 Time, Venue & How to Watch
- Match: India vs South Africa, 2nd T20I
- Date & Time: Thursday, December 11, 7:00 PM IST
- Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Int. Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
- Toss Time: 6:30 PM IST
- TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network
- Live Stream (India): JioHotstar website and app
Shubman Gill’s Format Crisis Deepens
Gill has played seven T20Is since returning during the Asia Cup in September. His highest score in that stretch reads 34. It isn’t a temporary dip, a genuine format compatibility issue.
The team management continues backing him despite Sanju Samson waiting in the wings. Loyalty has limits, though. Gill averages under 25 in this current run. His strike rate barely touches 125. Modern T20 openers need to explode from ball one with strike rates above 140. Gill keeps trying to build innings when the team needs him to attack relentlessly.
His technical ability was never in question. The problem sits between his ears. India abandoned the anchor role when Virat Kohli stepped back after the last World Cup. Every batter now plays like the innings might end any moment. Gill hasn’t adjusted his mindset, and it shows in every dismissal.
Mullanpur’s batting-friendly surface might be his final opportunity to prove he belongs in this setup. The new ball comes onto the bat sweetly here. Aggressive batting gets rewarded. If he cannot capitalize now, the selectors might finally look elsewhere.
Suryakumar’s Captaincy Burden
The contrast in Suryakumar’s numbers before and after captaincy makes grim reading. As a regular player, he averaged 45 in T20Is with a strike rate of 170. Those numbers have crashed since he took charge. The leadership responsibility appears to have stripped away his natural game.
His shot selection has become conservative. The audacious scoops and ramp shots have disappeared. He plays safer cricket now, trying to bat deep instead of dominating. That approach contradicts everything that made him special. That’s not why India handed him the captain’s armband.
Time is running short. India will defend their T20 World Cup crown at home in the coming months. The team cannot enter that tournament with a captain struggling for runs and rhythm. The IND vs SA T20 series gives him five matches to rediscover his best version. One opportunity has already slipped away. Thursday becomes crucial for him.
South Africa Ready to Strike Back
Writing off the Proteas after one horror show would be foolish. Their squad overflows with match-winners. Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Dewald Brevis, and Tristan Stubbs can all tear apart bowling attacks on their day.
Brevis stands out as the danger man. The 22-year-old possesses freakish power. Cuttack’s sluggish pitch restricted him. Mullanpur’s true surface suits his game perfectly. Give him room to swing, and South Africa could easily post 200-plus.
Aiden Markram must deploy his spinners cleverly. India bat deep until number eight, but quality spin in the middle overs can expose them. Keshav Maharaj becomes crucial. The pace trio of Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, and Marco Jansen will fancy their chances too, provided dew doesn’t ruin their grip on the ball.
IND vs SA 2nd T20 Probable XIs and Key Players
We expect both teams to back their core players again, trusting them to deliver when it counts.
India’s Probable Playing XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh
South Africa’s Probable Playing XI:
Ryan Rickelton (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje
For India
- Player to Watch: The spotlight is intensely on Suryakumar Yadav. The skipper’s form is a growing concern, with an average of just 15.07 in 16 T20Is this year. A return to his explosive best is crucial not just for this IND vs SA T20 series, but for India’s World Cup preparations. All of India will be hoping he finds his rhythm in Mullanpur’s good batting conditions.
- Milestone Alert: Hardik Pandya is on the cusp of a historic double. He is just one wicket away from becoming the first Indian seamer to score 1000+ runs and take 100+ wickets in T20Is.
For South Africa
- Player to Watch: Young gun Dewald Brevis showed a glimpse of his talent with 22 runs in the first game. On a pitch that should be better for batting, he has the potential to take the game away from India if he gets going.
- Captain’s Call: After the heavy defeat, Captain Aiden Markram emphasized moving on quickly. “You almost just want to draw a line through it and stick to the positive ways of this format,” he said, signaling an aggressive intent for the second game.
Pitch, Weather, and Toss
Understanding the conditions will be key to winning the IND vs SA 2nd T20.
- Pitch Report: The Mullanpur surface is making its international debut, but its IPL history tells us to expect a good batting wicket. The outfield is quick, helping batters score freely early on. As the game progresses, spinners might come into play. Interestingly, in 11 IPL matches here, the team batting first has won 6 times and chasing teams 5 times, suggesting there’s no massive chase-friendly bias.
- Weather & The Dew Factor: While the sky is forecast to be clear with no rain, the real game-changer will be the evening dew. As the night progresses, the ball can get wet and slippery, making it extremely difficult for bowlers to grip, especially for spinners.
Head-to-Head Record in IND vs SA T20 Matches
India dominates this rivalry with 19 wins from 32 T20 encounters. South Africa has won 12 times. One match ended without a result. These historical numbers mean little when you trail 0-1 in a five-match series, though.
South Africa must win on Thursday to stay alive in the series; otherwise, they’ll watch it slip away. India aims to deliver the knockout punch early, so it can test their bench strength in the final games.
The Bigger Picture
While the result of this single match is Vital, both teams have a larger goal. This entire IND vs SA T20 series is a critical part of their preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be hosted in India. Each game is a fresh opportunity to test new player combinations, build team chemistry, and learn to adapt to different pitches across India.
For the Indian team, finding a consistent and fearless batting approach, led by an in-form Suryakumar Yadav, is the top priority on the road to defending their world title.
So, tune in tonight for what promises to be a fascinating contest.
Will India’s stars shine bright at the new stadium and take an unassailable series lead?
Or will South Africa’s powerful hitters fight back and level the scores?
Grab your snacks, settle in, and get ready for the IND vs SA live score today to start rolling at 7 PM IST.
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My name is Krishanu Das the founder of the Sports Dribble.
I am Accountant by profession but a Sports Blogger by passion.
I am passionate about sharing my all knowledge and experiences of sports, with my readers and every sports enthusiast.
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