After that brutal defeat in Cuttack, South Africa needs answers fast. India hammered them by 101 runs in the first T20I, and now the series moves to New Chandigarh on December 11, 2025. Can Aiden Markram’s men bounce back, or will India tighten their grip?
In Cuttack, India posted 175/6, then bowled South Africa out for just 74. Hardik Pandya smashed 59 off 28 balls and walked away with the Player of the Match award. The Proteas batting collapsed completely.
This article gives you everything you need for the second T20I: match details, odds, team news, pitch analysis, and our honest prediction.
South Africa vs India 2nd T20I Details
New Chandigarh hosts its first-ever men’s international match. The Proteas will be the first visiting team to play there. Here are the complete match details:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | India vs South Africa T20I Series 2025 |
| Match | 2nd T20I |
| Date | Thursday, December 11, 2025 |
| Time (SAST) | 3:30 PM |
| Time (IST) | 7:00 PM |
| Venue | New Chandigarh Stadium |
Team News And Squad Updates
South Africa comes into this match with the same squad that played in Cuttack. There are no injury concerns. But the big question is selection. Does Markram stick with the same XI or make changes?
Quinton de Kock’s form from the ODI series disappeared in Cuttack. David Miller also failed. The middle order needs to fire. Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje will be key with the ball.
India has no reason to change their winning combination. Hardik Pandya is back to his best. Varun Chakravarthy is unplayable.
South Africa Squad: Aiden Markram (C), Dewald Brevis, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Quinton de Kock (wk), Donovan Ferreira (wk), Tristan Stubbs (wk), Ottneil Baartman, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje
India Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana
New Chandigarh Pitch Report
New Chandigarh has no tall stands around it, which means dew doesn’t affect the pitch as much. In Cuttack, dew made chasing easier. Here, that advantage disappears.
Teams batting first have a 6-5 record in IPL matches at New Chandigarh. Scores above 200 have been defended here. Even a low score of 111 was defended once. This tells you that the toss isn’t everything here.
Fast bowlers get help on this surface. The pitch has bounce and carry. This could work in South Africa’s favor.
| Pitch Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Surface Type | Balanced surface, not as batter-friendly as Cuttack |
| Bowling Assistance | Fast bowlers get bounce and movement |
| Batting First | Not a disadvantage – teams have defended big scores |
| Dew Factor | Minimal impact due to no tall stands |
| Average First Innings Score | 170-185 |
South Africa vs India 2nd T20I Weather Report
The weather in New Chandigarh looks excellent for cricket. No rain threats.
| Weather Element | Condition |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 15-18°C during the match (cooler than Cuttack) |
| Weather | Clear skies expected |
| Precipitation | Zero chance of rain |
| Humidity | Around 45%, dry conditions |
| Wind | Light breeze, nothing significant |
South Africa vs India – Head to Head in T20Is (Updated)
After the Cuttack disaster, the head-to-head record now reads:
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 32 |
| India Wins | 19 |
| South Africa Wins | 12 |
| No Result | 1 |
Match Odds for 2nd T20I
The betting markets tell the brutal truth. After that Cuttack hammering, India are massive favorites.
| Betting Platform | India Odds | South Africa Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Platform 1 | 1.38 | 3.04 |
| Platform 2 | 1.40 | 3.07 |
| Platform 3 | 1.38 | 3.04 |
| Platform 4 | 1.38 | 3.04 |
Win Probability
| Team | Probability to Win |
|---|---|
| India | 72-75% |
| South Africa | 25-28% |
Those odds are painful to look at. The bookmakers don’t give South Africa much of a chance. But odds don’t win matches. Players do.
Key Players to Watch
These players will decide whether South Africa can fight back or sink deeper:
| Player | Team | Role | Why They Matter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton de Kock | SA | Opener/WK | He flopped in Cuttack after that brilliant ODI century. If de Kock gets going in the powerplay, South Africa has a chance. |
| Hardik Pandya | IND | All-rounder | He destroyed SA in Cuttack with 59 off 28 balls. He’s hitting the ball cleanly. He’s bowling well. |
| Anrich Nortje | SA | Fast Bowler | The fast bowler is back from injury. He couldn’t bowl well in Cuttack. But New Chandigarh’s pitch should suit him. |
| Varun Chakravarthy | IND | Mystery Spinner | This mystery spinner is South Africa’s nightmare. He took 2 wickets for 19 runs in Cuttack. He took 12 wickets in four matches against South Africa in the last series. |
| David Miller | SA | Middle-order | The veteran finisher has been quiet in the first match. If he fires, anything is possible. |
| Jasprit Bumrah | IND | Fast Bowler | The world’s best death bowler needs one more wicket to become only the fifth player with 100 wickets in all three formats. |
Can South Africa Bounce Back? Our Prediction
India comes into this match with all the momentum. They’re playing at home. They’re in brilliant form. They just destroyed South Africa by 101 runs. Their confidence is sky-high. They have match-winners in every department.
South Africa is wounded. The team had no training day in New Chandigarh after scrambling from Cuttack. The confidence is shaken. The batting lineup collapsed in the first match.
But New Chandigarh’s pitch favors fast bowlers. Nortje, Ngidi, and Jansen can all trouble India’s batters if they bowl well. The dew factor is minimal here, unlike Cuttack. Teams batting first have won matches here. If South Africa wins the toss and bats first, they can post a good total and put pressure on India.
Final Verdict: India is likely to win and take a 2-0 lead in the series. South Africa needs an excellent performance to stop them.
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Conclusion: It’s Time For The Proteas To Show Pride
The first T20I was brutal. There’s no sugar-coating it. But champions respond to adversity. The Proteas have been written off before and bounced back stronger.
This series isn’t over. South Africa is 1-0 down, but there are four matches left.
South African fans, keep believing. This team has fighters. They’ve shocked bigger teams in tougher situations. If they find their rhythm in New Chandigarh, India will know they’re in a contest.
