South Africa tour of India 2025 | 2nd T20I | Preview and Predictions
India kicked off their five-match T20I home series against South Africa with a thumping 101-run win as Hardik Pandya shone on his return to the national team.
The action now moves to New Chandigarh, with Suryakumar Yadav and Co looking to build on their series lead and the Proteas looking to level the proceedings.
For the second T20I between India and South Africa, here we present our preview and predictions.
South Africa tour of India 2025 | 2nd T20I | 19:00 IST, December 11, 2025
Shubman Gill didn’t have the best return to the national team. He, Abhishek Sharma, and captain Suryakumar Yadav were back in the hut early on. Yadav’s continuing struggles with the bat may soon become a cause for concern for the hosts, especially if it plagues the majority of the series.
Stuck at 48/3, and then at 137/6, India were looking in trouble and even 150 was looking like a tough score for them, with the likes of Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube failing to convert their starts into big scores. It was only a late blitzkrieg (59* off 28) from Hardik Pandya, India’s No. 1 all-rounder, that helped them reach an unlikely 175/6. With the likes of Sanju Samson and Rinku Singh waiting in the dugout, the starting batters know that they have to capitalise on each opportunity, lest they be replaced.
India’s bowling attack was clinical. The spin duo of Patel and Varun Chakravarthy ran through the South African middle order after Arshdeep Singh sent the top-order batters back early. The Indian bowlers never let their foot off the gas, and regular breakthroughs saw them bundle South Africa out for a paltry 74.
The Proteas have a lot of work to do heading into the second game. Lungi Ngidi and Lutho Sipamla started well with the ball for them but were all over the place in the death overs, which allowed Pandya to continue his blitz. Anrich Nortje returned to the South African squad after 18 months, and while he showed some impressive pace, he was wayward towards the end and conceded a lot of runs without taking a wicket. Keshav Maharaj, their most senior spinner, also took some beating. Captain Aiden Markram will hope his bowlers are more clinical in New Chandigarh.
With the bat, South Africa had a night to forget. Despite boasting an explosive and experienced batting line-up, which comprised the likes of Markram, Quinton de Kock, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, and David Miller, the top order were back in the dugout inside the Powerplay.
South Africa bat deep, with Marco Jansen and Maharaj at No. 7 and No. 8 being more than handy with the bat. This gives the top-order batters some freedom, but they’ll know they cannot hand the entire scoring responsibility to the middle- and lower-order batters.
This T20I will be the third international game at the Mullanpur ground and the first-ever men’s international at the venue. It has been a good venue for batters, with the slower bowlers getting some assistance from the strip. With dew set to be a factor later on, chasing may become easier.
India start as our favourites once again. The Men in Blue are keen to prepare properly ahead of their title defence at the home T20 World Cup next year and will want to make as many statements along the way as they can.
Fantasy XI: Shubman Gill (c), Abhishek Sharma (vc), Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh
Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh
Winners Prediction: India
