IND vs SA 2025: “We Can’t Rely on Abhishek”, Suryakumar Opens Up on Batting Failures
South Africa beat India by 51 runs in Mullanpur as de Kock shines and India’s top order fails, making the series 1-1.
India crashed to a 51-run loss in the second T20I in Mullanpur, allowing South Africa to level the five-match series 1-1. A strong crowd watched India struggle from the first over and fail to keep up with a tall chase of 214.
Quinton de Kock powered the visitors with a blazing 90 that kept India on the back foot. His clean hitting and calm tempo helped South Africa post 213 for 4. Ottniel Baartman backed it up with a sharp spell of 4 for 24 that broke India’s middle order.
India began the chase poorly. Shubman Gill fell first ball to Lungi Ngidi. Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav then edged behind off Marco Jansen in successive overs. India slipped to 32 for 3 and never recovered.
The middle phase brought some fight, but the asking rate kept climbing. Regular wickets meant India were bowled out for 162 in 19.1 overs. With the top order gone early, the lower order had too much to do and the chase fizzled out.
Suryakumar was honest after the defeat. He said India have leaned too much on Abhishek’s bright starts and that senior batters must step up. He admitted he should have carried the innings deeper.
“I think myself, Shubman, we could have given a good start because we can’t rely on Abhishek all the time,” he said. “I should have taken that responsibility, batted a little deeper. We learn, we try and do better in the next game.”
He also explained that the team backed Axar Patel to bat freely again after his knock in the previous match, but it could not click. “We will see what’s up for us going on in the next game,” he added.
South Africa’s strong reply after losing the first match has opened up the series. The momentum now shifts to Dharamsala, where the third T20I on December 14 will act as an early decider.
