Breaking: India hit Mullanpur humming tonight, one win up and hunting a second. The first T20I was a statement. A 101-run win in Cuttack sent a message. The second game has begun in Punjab, and the energy is real. India’s depth looks loaded. South Africa need answers fast.
Live from Mullanpur
The lights are sharp. The surface looks true. The second T20I started at 7:30 PM IST, and the crowd has turned up loud. Security is tight at the gates, with extra checks in place around the venue. That has kept things smooth and calm.
Quinton de Kock is in rhythm early. His hands are quick, and he is timing cleanly through the off side. You can feel South Africa leaning on his calm head. They need him to set the pace and hold it.
This ground rewards clean hitting square. It also rewards smart lengths with the new ball. Dew could slide in later. That shifts value to chasing, and it puts early wickets at a premium.
India’s momentum and depth
India did not just beat South Africa in Cuttack. They overpowered them. Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten 59 off 28 was a bolt of electricity. The bat swing was free. The finish was ruthless. His return has reset India’s middle order. It also gives the captain a fast bowling option who thinks like a batter.
Jasprit Bumrah, cool as ice, touched 100 men’s T20I wickets in the opener. That is craft and control over years. His seam stays upright. His yorker arrives late. Nothing looks rushed. Everything looks planned.
Around them, India’s pieces fit. The new ball bites, the spin suits the middle, and the fielding is sharp. This is not a one-man show. It is a full machine.
India’s twin engines right now, Hardik’s late hitting and Bumrah’s new-ball clarity, make them hard to derail.
Selection calls and the No. 3 debate
There is real talk inside the group about the top three. Sanju Samson at No. 3 is on the table. He plays fast, yet he can build an innings. Shubman Gill is fit, and he offers balance and range. India’s choice shapes the whole chase or set-up.
Here are the live questions in the room:
- Do you back Gill to anchor, or Samson to punch first?
- How early do you unleash Hardik if wickets fall?
- Does the finisher role stay defined, or stay flexible?
- If the dew comes, do you add a second powerplay enforcer?
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Samson at three could free up hitters around him. Gill at three could steady the lane for a kick at the death. Either way, clarity is the win. T20 rewards bold calls, and India have the bench to back it.
How South Africa hit back
South Africa must reset their powerplay plan. A patient start will not work tonight. They need controlled aggression, not wild swings. De Kock is the tone-setter. Aiden Markram must ride with him. The middle order, with its muscle, has to target one bowler and break the spell.
They also need their quicks to hit the top of off and stay there. Short balls are a tactic, not a plan. Keep the stumps in play. Get India to hit to the big side. Tabraiz Shamsi’s wrists can flip the middle overs if he finds the right pace. The catch-up game killed them in Cuttack. That cannot happen again.
If dew arrives, pace off and wide yorkers beat panic. Bowl to the field. Keep third man and deep point alert.
What this series means
This is a marker for India’s white-ball cycle. The bench looks deep. The frontline looks settled. Big games in loud venues are where pecking orders harden. For South Africa, this is about nerve. Take it to a decider, and you change the mood. Let it slip tonight, and India will smell a sweep.
India’s fans have turned Mullanpur into a drum. The rhythm suits the hosts. But South Africa have players who live for noise. The first six overs of each innings will tell us who owns this night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the series score right now?
A: India lead 1–0 after a 101-run win in the first T20I at Cuttack.
Q: Where is the second T20I being played and when did it start?
A: It is at the PCA stadium in Mullanpur, Punjab. It started at 7:30 PM IST.
Q: Who starred in the first match?
A: Hardik Pandya smashed 59 not out off 28. Jasprit Bumrah reached 100 men’s T20I wickets.
Q: Why is Bumrah’s milestone a big deal?
A: It proves sustained excellence in the hardest format for bowlers. He controls starts and closes innings.
Q: What must South Africa change tonight?
A: Attack the powerplay with control, field cleanly, and make India hit to the big side. No freebies.
India already have a grip on this series. Tonight decides how tight it gets. If the hosts stay ruthless, 2–0 is on the cards. If South Africa find their bite, we have a contest on our hands. I will keep you on the pulse as this one unfolds.
