The second T20I of the four-match series between Suryakumar Yadav-led India and Aiden Markram-led South Africa was held at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Sunday, November 10.
Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian national cricket team lost the match by 3 wickets. The next match between the teams is scheduled to be played on Wednesday, November 13 at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Also Read: Watch: Tilak Varma scores a huge six and sends the ball outside Gqeberha Stadium in IND vs SA 2nd T20I
India loses second T20I and series is leveled at 1-1
India was invited to bat first in the match and could not register a big score. Openers Sanju Samson (0) and Abhishek Sharma (4) were dismissed early in the innings.
Then India captain Suryakumar Yadav (4) also failed but Tilak Varma (20) and Axar Patel (27) kept India in the game with their partnership.
In the end, Hardik Pandya made a decent contribution of 39 runs off 45 balls which took India to 124 for 6. Notably, India could have added a few more runs but Hardik Pandya kept denying Arshdeep Singh the strike, which ultimately gave him It cost the men. In blue.
With the ball, Varun Chakravarthy shined with a 5-wicket haul and other players also kept things tight but South Africa finally crossed the finish line in the 19th over.
You always have to back the total you get – Suryakumar Yadav
During the post-match presentation ceremony, Suryakumar Yadav expressed his disappointment over the performance of the Indian batsmen and said that a total of 125 or 140 is not ideal. He said:
“You always have to back the total you get. Of course, in a T20 game, you don’t want to get 125 or 140, but I’m proud of the way our boys bowled.”
Suryakumar Yadav further praised Varun Chakravarthy for his exceptional performance with the ball. Furthermore, the Indian captain promised the fans to entertain them in the last two T20Is. Suryakumar Yadav explained:
“(On Varun Chakaravarthy’s 5-fer) In a T20 game, someone gets a 5-fer defending 125 and in this situation, it is unbelievable. He worked very hard on his game and has been waiting for this stage, and everyone enjoyed it. “Brilliant performance on your part. “There are two games left, there is plenty of entertainment left and it will be fun in Jo’burg.”
India had comprehensively won the first T20I
India had achieved a dominant victory in the first T20I, showing brilliance in both the batting and bowling departments to secure a resounding 61-run victory over South Africa.
Sanju Samson set the tone with a brilliant 107 off just 50 balls in the first innings. His knock, riddled with seven boundaries and ten notable sixes, allowed him to dominate the South African attack. Supported by Tilak Varma’s rapid-fire 33 off 18 balls and Suryakumar Yadav’s 21 off 17 balls, India reached an impressive total of 202/8 in their 20 overs.
Defending 202, the Indian bowling attack seized the momentum with early knocks. Arshdeep Singh dismissed South Africa captain Aiden Markram in the first over, setting the stage for the Indian bowlers.
Spinner Varun Chakravarthy emerged as a key figure, dismantling South Africa’s middle order with 3/25, claiming crucial wickets from Ryan Rickelton, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller. Ravi Bishnoi followed suit with a stunning 3/28, rattling the lower order and keeping the chase out of the Proteas’ reach. In the end, Avesh Khan concluded the innings by removing Keshav Maharaj to end South Africa’s innings at 141.
