India vs South Africa T20I 2025: Tilak Varma’s efforts undone as SA level the series with a 51-run win, powered by Quinton de Kock’s blistering 90
South Africa posted a challenging 213/4 after choosing to bat first at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Quinton de Kock starred with a rapid 90 off 46 balls, guiding the innings while India’s bowlers conceded a higher number of extras, including 16 wides, contributing to a costly 22 extras in total.
Varun Chakravarthy, the top-ranked T20I bowler, was the best among the Indian bowlers, ending with 2/29 from four overs.
In reply, India were bowled out for 162 in 19.1 overs, with Tilak Varma delivering a bright 62 off 34 balls to stand out amid the collapse. South Africa’s Ottneil Baartman exploited the conditions best for his side, finishing with 4/24.
The result levels the five-match series at 1-1. India had taken the lead in the opener in Cuttack, thriving on Hardik Pandya’s all-around display in a 101-run victory. The third game is scheduled for Dharamshala on Sunday, as both teams prepare to clash again.
South Africa began aggressively, with de Kock stringing together clean hits and exploiting India’s wayward bowling attack, which conceded a total of 22 extras (including 16 wides).
Reeza Hendricks fell to a skiddy googly from Varun Chakravarthy on the night’s first ball of the fifth over, but de Kock and Aiden Markram stitched an 83-run partnership to reaccelerate the innings.
By halfway, South Africa were well placed at 90/1. A notable over by Arshdeep Singh—an 18-run over that included seven wides and 13 deliveries in total—sped the tempo away from India’s bowling unit.
Markram’s dismissal to Chakravarthy shortly after the midway mark slowed things briefly, but de Kock looked set for a hundred before a sharp, instinctive grab by Jitesh Sharma cut his innings at 156/3.
De Kock’s exit did not derail South Africa; Donovan Ferreira and David Miller then finished strongly in the death overs to seal the innings.
India’s pace attack came under heavy pressure, with Arshdeep Singh (0/54), Hardik Pandya (0/34), and Jasprit Bumrah (0/45) going for runs.
The chase began on a sour note for India as Shubman Gill fell to Lungi Ngidi on the very first ball. Marco Jansen then dismantled the top order, removing Abhishek Sharma and captain Rohit Sharma in quick succession, leaving India at 32/3.
Axar Patel steadied briefly, contributing a run-a-ball 21 before falling. Tilak Varma, fresh from a strong Asia Cup showing, kept India in contention with a rapid half-century that included two fours and five sixes.
Ultimately, Varma ran out of partners, finishing as the last wicket to fall as India collapsed, losing the final five wickets for just five runs in eight balls.
Key wicket-takers for South Africa aside from Baartman included Lungi Ngidi (2/26), Marco Jansen (2/25), and Lutho Sipamla (2/46).
Final Scores: South Africa 213/4 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 90; Varun Chakravarthy 2/29) defeated India 162 all out in 19.1 overs (Tilak Varma 62; Ottneil Baartman 4/24) by 51 runs.
