Mullanpur Mayhem: South Africa Strike Back with 6-Run Thriller Over India in 2nd T20I

In a rollercoaster of a contest that had 28,000 fans at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on their feet until the final ball, South Africa edged India by six runs in the 2nd T20I on December 11, leveling the five-match series at 1-1. Defending a modest 169 for 6, the Proteas’ bowlers—spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada’s 3 for 25 and Keshav Maharaj’s miserly 2 for 18—held their nerve in a tense death over, restricting India to 163 all out in 19.5 overs. South Africa’s innings was rescued by David Miller’s brutal 56 off 32 after a top-order wobble, while India’s chase, ignited by Suryakumar Yadav’s 48 off 28, faltered in the closing stages with Hardik Pandya’s run-out sealing the drama. This gritty win injects life into the series, setting up a decider in Dharamsala, as South Africa eye a rare T20I series triumph in India.

The Punjab night fixture, under crisp winter skies with a biting chill, turned the new stadium into a cauldron of tension—the crowd’s mix of blue and green jerseys a sea of divided loyalties. The pitch, a slow black-soil strip with variable bounce and grip for spinners, favored the chase early but gripped under lights, assisting the slower balls. Aiden Markram’s toss win and decision to bat first was a calculated risk on dew, but his side’s recovery from 48 for 3 showcased character. Suryakumar Yadav’s aggressive captaincy—promoting Rinku Singh and backing spin in the middle—nearly paid off, but fielding lapses (a missed stumping) and a middle-order collapse cost dear. For Markram, the victory was a morale booster after the ODI whitewash; for India, a wake-up call ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. As Rabada yorked Mukesh Kumar to spark wild celebrations, whispers of a series upset grew louder.

Markram’s XI brimmed with all-round depth: Aiden Markram (c), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi. Miller’s retention over Heinrich Klaasen added finishing punch, Maharaj’s left-arm spin the weapon on a turning track. India, led by Suryakumar, fielded: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c & wk), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, and Mukesh Kumar. The recall of Rinku over Sanju Samson prioritized stability, Chakaravarthy’s leg-spin the mystery element.

Umpires Virender Sharma and Jayaraman Madanagopal called play at 7:00 PM IST, Hendricks and Markram facing Arshdeep’s swing in front of a packed house.

South Africa’s innings unraveled early, the top order undone by India’s seam-spin cocktail under the dew-free start. Arshdeep struck in the third over: his outswinger induced Hendricks’ edge to Suryakumar for 8 off 10 — 12 for 1. Markram survived a testing maiden from Mukesh but fell to Chakaravarthy’s googly in the sixth—trapped lbw for 18 off 14, the ball turning square — 32 for 2. Bavuma and Stubbs rebuilt cautiously: Bavuma nurgling Axar through point for a single, Stubbs sweeping Bishnoi fine for four. Their 38-run stand off 28 balls pushed to 70 for 2 at the halfway mark, but Bishnoi’s quicker one deceived Bavuma—bowled for 22 off 18 — 70 for 3 in the 11th.

Miller’s arrival ignited the recovery. The veteran southpaw targeted the spinners ruthlessly: he slog-swept Axar over deep midwicket for six, then carved Chakaravarthy through cover for four. Stubbs reached 28 off 22 with a pulled six off Mukesh, but holed out to long-on off Arshdeep — 108 for 4 in the 14th. Ferreira joined Miller, scratching singles amid dots, but Miller exploded: a reverse-lap four off Maharaj? No, against Pandya’s medium-pace, he smashed two sixes over cow corner in the 17th. Reaching 56 off 32 (5×4, 4×6) with a flicked boundary off Arshdeep, Miller fell to Mukesh’s yorker — 158 for 5 in the 19th.

Mulder (8 off 5) and Ferreira (12* off 8) eked out 11 more, Ferreira’s late six off Bishnoi lifting to 169 for 6. Jansen (0 off 1) run-out backing up. India’s bowlers were economical: Arshdeep 3-28, Chakaravarthy 1-22, Bishnoi 1-30. A missed stumping of Miller on 20 cost 36 runs; Markram reflected: “David’s 56 turned it; we needed 180+ on this greaser.”

India’s chase began with fireworks, but the middle order’s implosion turned it into a thriller. Jaiswal and Abhishek amassed 52 for 0 in the powerplay: Jaiswal pulling Ngidi for six, Abhishek ramping Jansen for four. Abhishek reached 32 off 18 before holing out to deep square off Rabada — 62 for 1 in the sixth. Suryakumar arrived, his 360-degree repertoire on song: reverse-sweeping Maharaj for four, lofting Mulder over extra cover for six. Partnering Jaiswal (42 off 28), they added 68 in 42 balls, pushing to 130 for 1 by the 12th. Jaiswal fell to Jansen’s slower ball, top-edging to short fine — 130 for 2.

Tilak Varma scratched 12 before edging Rabada to Ferreira — 142 for 3 in the 14th. Rinku Singh and Suryakumar rebuilt: Rinku’s deft late cut off Maharaj for four, Suryakumar reaching 48 off 28 (5×4, 3×6) with a slog-swept six. Needing 27 off 36 balls, the duo seemed set, but Rabada returned: Suryakumar yorked for 48 — 156 for 4 in the 17th. Hardik Pandya joined Rinku (28 off 18), smashing Jansen for six over long-on, but Rinku holed out to deep midwicket off Maharaj — 162 for 5 in the 18th, needing 7 off 12.

Axar Patel scratched 2 before run-out by a direct throw from Stubbs — 164 for 6. Hardik (22 off 10) and Bishnoi (0 off 1) faced Rabada’s final over: needing 6 off 6, Hardik smashed a four off the second ball, but on the fourth—a slower yorker—Hardik backed up too far and was run-out by Miller’s direct hit for 22 — 168 for 7, needing 2 off 2. Chakaravarthy (0 off 1) blocked the penultimate, but Rabada’s final yorker cleaned up Mukesh backing up? No, Arshdeep on strike blocked the last — 163 all out in 19.5. South Africa’s death bowling masterful: Rabada 3-25, Maharaj 2-18. Suryakumar lamented: “Hardik’s run-out was the killer; we were 10 runs short.”

Post-Match Pulse & Series Stakes

• Player of the Match: Kagiso Rabada (3-25, 1 catch)
• Series Impact: Level at 1-1; decider in Dharamsala.
• Stats Spotlight: Miller’s 56 his 20th T20I fifty; Suryakumar’s 48 his 15th 40+ score.
• Weather Note: 18°C, low humidity; minimal dew aided bowlers.

Markram beamed: “Rabada’s death over was world-class; series alive now.”

T20I Series: India 1–1 South Africa

• 3rd T20I: Dharamsala, December 14 (D/N) — Decider
• 4th T20I: Lucknow, December 17 (D/N)
• 5th T20I: Ahmedabad, December 19 (D/N)

With Rohit and Kohli rested, India’s bench strength tested—Rinku’s emergence a positive. South Africa, buoyed, eye a upset series win. The T20 fireworks intensify.