[WATCH] IND vs SA 2025: Varun Chakravarthy humbles Reeza Hendricks with skidding carrom ball in Mullanpur

Indian mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy delivered the much-needed breakthrough for India against South Africa in the second T20I at Mullanpur on Thursday, December 11. India entered the contest with a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to bowl first.

South Africa made a steady start, scoring freely in the opening overs and handling the Indian pacers with ease. In response, India introduced Chakravarthy in the fifth over, with Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock looking set at the crease. On the very first ball of his spell, the spinner bowled a deceptive carrom ball on a good length. Hendricks rocked back to pull but completely misread the delivery as it skidded on, crashing into the stumps and giving India their first breakthrough.

Hendricks struggled to find his rhythm, unlike De Kock, who held the innings together from the other end. The left-hander continued his fluent form, bringing up his 17th T20I fifty and keeping South Africa competitive. The visitors will aim to push hard for a win to level the series.

In the series opener at Cuttack, India dominated with a massive 101-run victory. Hardik Pandya led from the front, smashing an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls. For South Africa, Lungi Ngidi was the standout bowler with figures of 3/31. Chasing 176, the Proteas were bundled out for just 74, as India’s bowlers bowled with discipline and accuracy, striking at regular intervals to dismantle the opposition lineup.

Speaking about the overall South Africa tour, the hosts clinched the two-match Test series 2-0, whitewashing India and securing their first Test series win over them in 25 years. In the ODIs, India dominated the visitors 2-1 on the back of Virat Kohli’s brilliant run, as he smashed two centuries and a half-century across the three games. Now, both teams will look to finish strong in the shorter format and clinch the T20I series.