India seize the moment in Mullanpur, and Hardik Pandya grabs it with both hands. On a night built on steel and ceremony, India edged South Africa in the second T20I, riding a fierce all round punch from Pandya and a disciplined closing act from the bowling group. The series swings India’s way, and the noise around selection just got louder.
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The Match, in the Middle
Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bowl. It proved smart. The surface had grip early, and India’s seamers hit the deck hard. South Africa were forced into risks and never found a stable gear. India’s fielding was sharp, cutting twos into singles and turning tense moments their way.
Pandya was the fulcrum. With the ball, he mixed pace, hit a hard length, and forced miscues. With the bat, he soaked up pressure, then found the rope when it mattered. It was the kind of game that changes a series mood. It also resets a dressing room’s belief in its balance.
Hardik Pandya’s all round display defined the night, steadying the chase and striking at key bowling phases.
Shubman Gill and Suryakumar had nights to forget with the bat. Low scores keep the spotlight on leadership and roles. India, though, closed ranks. The chase was controlled, the risk was measured, the result was earned.
Security and Ceremony
This was not a normal T20 night. Nearly 3,000 police were deployed across the region. A strict three tier plan managed gates, roads, and crowd movement. The area was marked as a no fly zone. It felt like a World Cup evening, not a mid series stop.
Inside, the ground leaned into history. New stands honored Yuvraj Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur, a proud nod to Punjab’s deep cricket roots. Yuvraj visited the team before the toss. His words were short, direct, and full of edge. India took the field with that edge.
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Traffic checks were heavy around approach roads. Fans arrived early, and the queues moved better than expected.
Selection Stakes and Style Questions
Sanju Samson stayed on the bench again. That decision will echo all week. You can feel the push for a fresh opener option, and the pull to back a young core through lean spells. That is the balance every selector must manage in a T20 year.
Gill’s method remains under review. He is a class player, but T20 asks for pace from ball one, or a clear plan to catch up later. Right now, India need clarity at the top, and intent that translates into powerplay control.
Pandya’s night matters in that debate. When the finisher is landing punches, the order breathes easier. India’s bowling combinations also look flexible. The group hunted in pairs and protected the short side well. It was smart, calm T20 cricket.
- Key takeaways:
- Bowling first fit the surface, and India nailed the lengths.
- Pandya’s timing with bat and ball swung the game.
- Leadership spots had lean returns, and questions will continue.
- Samson’s bench run fuels a real selection test.
Culture, Venue, and What It Means
Mullanpur announced itself with scale, security, and story. The stands named for Yuvraj and Harmanpreet link the present to the past. That connection matters. Players feel it, fans live it, and the sport grows from it. On nights like this, a venue earns a voice.
For South Africa, this is a reset moment. Their middle overs lacked the punch to break India’s hold. They need a cleaner powerplay plan and a finisher who takes the chase deep without panic. The tools are there. The sequencing must improve.
Watch India’s middle overs with the ball. They slowed the rate without giving buy balls, then attacked the new batter.
The series now stretches into its busy middle. Momentum favors India. The next matches will tell if this grip holds as the venues change and the pitches do, too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who won the second T20I in Mullanpur?
A: India won, led by a match changing all round performance from Hardik Pandya.
Q: Why was security so tight at the stadium?
A: Authorities deployed about 3,000 police and set a no fly zone to ensure a safe, smooth event.
Q: Did Sanju Samson play?
A: No. He was benched again, which keeps selection talk alive for the next game.
Q: What did the toss decision mean?
A: Suryakumar Yadav chose to bowl, and India controlled the game with early grip and tight middle overs.
Q: What is next in the series?
A: The T20Is continue with stops ahead in venues like Dharamshala, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad.
India leave Mullanpur with the win and the wind behind them. Hardik Pandya set the tone, the bowlers held the line, and the venue found its heartbeat. If India carry this clarity into the next games, the series could tilt fast, and tilt for good.
