The excitement has now shifted to Chandigarh, as India vs South Africa Prediction, 2nd T20I – Who will take the lead tonight? face off in the second T20I of the series at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, December 11. India already holds the advantage after a dominant performance in Cuttack, and they will be looking to extend that lead before the series progresses further.
India’s Dominant Start
In the first match, India registered one of their most emphatic T20 victories in recent years. South Africa’s chase never got going, and the visitors were bowled out for just 74 runs, their lowest total in this format.
Hardik Pandya made a spectacular return with the bat. His 59-run innings off 28 balls turned the tide, especially after early setbacks. Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill departed cheaply, but Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma steadied the innings, allowing Pandya and Axar Patel to finish strongly.
With a target of 176 runs, South Africa was expected to put up a fight. Instead, India’s bowling attack was relentless. Arshdeep Singh set the tone by dismissing de Kock and Stubbs early, while Bumrah, Axar, Chakravarthy, Pandya, and Dube shared the remaining wickets. Only Brevis managed to reach double digits.
Match Details
- Match: India vs South Africa, 2nd T20I
- Date and Time: Thursday, December 11 – 7:00 PM IST
- Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh
- Telecast: JioStar Channel
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar (App/Website)
Pitch Report
The Mullanpur pitch is known to offer a fair contest. The outfield is fast, so shots will travel to the boundary. Batsmen enjoy the early overs, but the pitch tends to slow down as the game progresses. Spinners will play a crucial role in the second innings, especially if there is dew. Any score above 170 will please the team batting first.
Head-to-Head in T20Is
- Matches: 32
- India: 19 wins
- South Africa: 12 wins
- No Result/Tie: 1
India also won their most recent encounter earlier this week. Probable Playing XI
India:
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh
South Africa:
Quinton de Kock (WK), Aiden Markram (C), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje
Players to Watch
Tilak Varma – Best Batsman
This young player has made rapid strides in international cricket. His clean hitting, especially against fast bowlers, makes him dangerous. Even though his score wasn’t big in the first match, his timing and confidence were superb.
Jasprit Bumrah – Best Bowler
Bumrah is consistently setting new benchmarks. His early success against Brevis helped India maintain control of the match, and he has now crossed the 100-wicket mark in T20Is. With the pitch likely to assist seam bowlers in the initial overs, he will once again play a crucial role.
Prediction
The team batting first on this ground has a better chance of controlling the match. If India gets a good start with the bat, they have both the depth in batting and bowling to defend a total.
Today’s Match Prediction: India to win
South Africa will certainly try to bounce back, but India currently looks sharper, more stable, and more confident.
