"You don't want to get 125 or 140": Suryakumar Yadav indirectly attacks Hardik Pandya

The second T20I of the four-match series between Suryakumar Yadav-led India and Aiden Markram-led South Africa was hosted by St George's Park in Gqeberha on Sunday, November 10.

Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, the India National Cricket Team lost the match by 3 wickets. The next match between the teams is scheduled to be played on Wednesday, November 13, at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.

Also Read: Watch: Tilak Varma hits humongous six, sends ball out of Gqeberha stadium in IND vs SA 2nd T20I

India lose 2nd T20I as series gets leveled 1-1

India were invited to bat first in the match and they were not able to register a big score. Openers Sanju Samson (0) and Abhishek Sharma (4) were dismissed early on in the innings.

Then, the India skipper Suryakumar Yadav (4) also failed but Tilak Varma (20) and Axar Patel (27) kept India in the game with their partnership.

In the end, Hardik Pandya made a decent contribution of 39 runs off 45 balls that took India to 124 for 6. Notably, India could have added a few more runs but Hardik Pandya kept denying the strike to Arshdeep Singh, which eventually cost the Men In Blue.

With the ball, Varun Chakravarthy shined with a 5-wicket haul and other bowlers also kept things tight, but South Africa eventually crossed the finish line in the 19th over.

You always have to back whatever total you get - Suryakumar Yadav

During the post-match presentation ceremony, Suryakumar Yadav expressed disappointment over the performance of Indian batters and said that a total of 125 or 140 is not ideal. He said:

"You always have to back whatever total you get. Of course, in a T20 game, you don't want to get 125 or 140, but I'm proud of the way our boys bowled."

Suryakumar Yadav further lauded Varun Chakravarthy for his exceptional performance with the ball. Also, the Indian captain promised the fans to entertain them in the last two T20I. Suryakumar Yadav elaborated:

"(On Varun Chakaravarthy's 5-fer) In a T20 game someone getting a 5-fer defending 125 and in this situation, it's incredible. He worked really hard on his game and he has been waiting for this stage, and everyone enjoyed it. Brilliant performance from him. Two games to go, a lot of entertainment left and it will be fun at Jo'burg."

India had won the first T20I comprehensively

India had marked a dominant victory in the first T20I, showcasing brilliance in both the batting and bowling departments to secure a commanding 61-run win over South Africa.

Sanju Samson set the tone with a scintillating 107 off just 50 balls in the first innings. His knock, studded with seven boundaries and ten remarkable sixes, saw him dominate the South African attack. Supported by Tilak Varma’s rapid 33 off 18 balls and Suryakumar Yadav's 17-ball 21, India surged to an impressive total of 202/8 in their 20 overs.

Defending 202, the Indian bowling attack capitalized on the momentum with early strikes. Arshdeep Singh dismissed South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram, in the first over, setting the stage for India’s bowlers.

The spinner Varun Chakravarthy emerged as a key figure, dismantling South Africa's middle order with 3/25, claiming crucial wickets of Ryan Rickelton, Heinrich Klaasen, and David Miller. Ravi Bishnoi followed suit with an impactful 3/28, unsettling the lower order and keeping the chase out of reach for the Proteas. In the end, Avesh Khan wrapped up the innings by bowling out Keshav Maharaj to end South Africa’s innings at 141.