South Africa defeated the Indian side by a mammoth 51 runs and elevated themselves to a new high in T20I cricket. They became the team with the most wins against India in the shortest format of the game, as they crept past the likes of Australia and England with 13 wins against the Men in Blue.
South Africa has been one of the strongest sides in the world of cricket over the years, yet they have not been able to get their hands on ICC titles. Though they missed out on the ICC T20 World Cup title last year, 2024, they are still the most successful opposition against India.
The Proteas continue their promising run in the shortest format of the game, as they levelled the series against India in the second match at New Chandigarh. The match also marked Quinton de Kock’s stupendous return to international T20 cricket.
South Africa breaks their own T20 record in New Chandigarh
South Africa defeated India by 51 runs in the second match after having lost the first game by 100+ runs. The second match of the India vs South Africa 5-match series at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, saw South Africa put on a massive total.
Quinton de Kock, who made his international comeback last month in Pakistan, showed a commanding return to the format with a 46-ball 90. Though the batter missed a close call on his century, he still helped his team to a 200+ total.
The Protea bowlers continued the promising show as the home side was bowled out for 162 runs in less than 20 overs, with Tilak Varma being the only promising scorer. Ottneil Baartman dismissed four Indian batters for just 24 runs in four overs.
With this win, South Africa has not only levelled the series, but has also won 13 matches against India in T20Is, which is the most for any opposition against the Men in Blue. They have left behind Australia and England, who won 12 matches against the opposition.
Most wins against India in T20Is:
| TEAM | MATCHES | WINS | DEFEATS |
| South Africa | 33 | 13 | 19 |
| Australia | 37 | 12 | 22 |
| England | 29 | 12 | 17 |
| New Zealand | 25 | 10 | 14 |
| West Indies | 30 | 10 | 19 |
India can’t rely only on Abhishek Sharma for good starts
India is once again moving towards a one-player-dependent side, which they weren’t under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. India is very dependent on players like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma for runs, especially towards the start of the innings.
Abhishek Sharma can’t be winning all games for India; even captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted that he himself and Shubman Gill should be playing their part as well. Abhishek scored 17, Gill was dismissed for a duck and captain SKY was dismissed for just 5 runs.
“I think myself, Shubman, we could have given a good start because we can’t rely on Abhishek all the time. The way he’s been batting, he might have an off-day. Me, Shubman and few other batters should have taken it,” Suryakumar said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Are the Indian leaders a burden on the T20I side?
The Indian T20I side has seen its skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, and his deputy, Shubman Gill, falter on multiple occasions now. The captain, ever since wearing the band, has averaged below 20, and Shubman, who made a T20I comeback recently this year, has failed to prove his point at the top of the order.
“Shubman got out on the first ball. But I should have taken that responsibility, batted a little deeper. But as I said we learn, we try and do better in the next game to come,” Suryakumar Yadav took the blame for his weak show with the bat.