MULLANPUR: India’s campaign against South Africa hit a significant roadblock on Thursday, suffering a comprehensive 51-run defeat in the second T20 International in Mullanpur. The humbling loss, which saw the five-match series leveled at 1-1, has triggered intense scrutiny over the poor form of key batsmen Shubman Gill and captain Suryakumar Yadav, placing head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management squarely in the spotlight.
India’s bowling attack failed to maintain discipline, conceding a massive 213/4. South Africa’s innings was powered by a sensational 90 off 46 balls from opener Quinton de Kock, who punished a lack of control from the Indian seamers. A staggering thirteen full tosses were delivered by the hosts, a statistic that former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan highlighted on social media, questioning the team’s tactics.
The chase quickly collapsed for the Men in Blue. Facing a demanding target of 214, the top order crumbled within the Powerplay. Shubman Gill’s struggles in the T20 format continued as he edged Lungi Ngidi on the very first ball he faced, departing for a duck. Captain Suryakumar Yadav followed soon after, nicking a Marco Jansen delivery to walk back for a mere five runs.
Despite the early wreckage, young batter Tilak Varma offered a ray of hope, playing a fluent innings of 62 off 34 balls. However, with wickets tumbling around him—including a cheap dismissal for the promoted Axar Patel—the required rate proved too much. India were eventually bowled out for 162 in 19.1 overs.
The inability of the star batsmen to fire, coupled with a worrying display of bowling indiscipline, has now prompted difficult questions for Gambhir and the coaching staff ahead of the third T20I in Dharamsala. The management will be under immense pressure to find quick answers regarding the poor outings of Gill and Yadav, and to tighten up a bowling unit that conceded 123 runs in the final 10 overs.
