2nd T20I, IND vs SA LIVE: India to bowl first; South Africa bring three changes

In the second T20I at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to field, citing early dew as a factor.

India won the toss and decided to bowl first. Image | Crictracker on X

In the crucial second T20I of the series at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, in Mullanpur, India captain Suryakumar Yadav called correctly at the toss and elected to field first against South Africa, citing early dew as a key factor in the decision. The match, part of the ongoing five-match series, unfolds on a pitch described as compact and batsman-friendly, with boundaries measuring 68 meters square and 73 meters straight.

How to watch the match?

Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs South Africa 2nd T20 live online on JioHotstar, accessible via OTTPlay Premium.

Pitch report

Commentators Deep Dasgupta and Pommi Mbangwa highlighted the surface's appeal during the pre-match analysis.

"Right in the centre of the ground... Straightaway looks like a better surface to the bat on than the last one," they noted, pointing to a sheen, minor cracks, and sparse grass that suggest good carry without excessive deterioration.

Average winning scores here hover around 180, with dew expected later, reinforcing the toss winner's advantage in chasing. Cool conditions mean cracks won't widen dramatically, setting the stage for boundaries aplenty.

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Captains' strategies

South Africa skipper Aiden Markram admitted they would have bowled first too, eyeing the "pretty good wicket." He emphasized bouncing back from their prior loss, urging focus on partnerships and an early total to pressure India.

Markram introduced three changes—Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, and Ottneil Baartman replace Ryan Rickelton, Keshav Maharaj, and Anrich Nortje, for rotation and freshness, adapting to limited international action.

Suryakumar Yadav echoed the dew concern: "There was already a little bit of dew over there, so bowling first would be a better option."

He praised the venue's history, from franchise games to recent women's internationals, and lauded Hardik Pandya's all-round impact for maintaining composure under pressure. India stick with an unchanged XI, banking on their bowling attack to exploit conditions early.

Confirmed playing XIs

South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Marco Jansen, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.

India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh.

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