India vs South Africa: Three talking points from the second T20I

After the first T20I was washed out due to inclement weather at the start of a new season in Indian cricket, fans were treated to some great cricket in the second T20I at Mohali. India began with a very fine performance to beat the Proteas by seven wickets with one over remaining to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.

In terms of team selection, India approached the game in a slightly different way to what they have been doing in the last couple of years in limited overs' cricket. Virat Kohli decided to leave out both the wrist spinners, left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav and leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and decided to add depth to their batting with Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja in the side.

Also absent was India’s No. 1 fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and the other senior bowler in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, India gave an opportunity for the likes of Navdeep Saini and Deepak Chahar, who have been doing well in IPL and domestic cricket.

Here are some of the key talking points from India’s comprehensive win at Mohali.

---

#1. Quinton de Kock starts well

South Africa captain Quinton de Kock.

South Africa’s new T20I captain Quinton de Kock came out all guns blazing after being sent in to bat by Virat Kohli. The left-handed opener was severe on anything that was pitched up on either off or leg side. The best part of de Kock’s innings was the way he played proper cricketing strokes while not trying to hit the ball hard.

Just when de Kock was looking to go big after reaching his half century, he played one shot too many and was brilliantly caught at mid-off by Virat Kohli. Nevertheless it was a very good looking knock to start the tour for the wicket keeper batsman.

Navdeep Saini got de Kock's wicket.

Also see – Dream 11 prediction

#2. Indian bowlers come back well

Deepak Chahar.

After a decent start with the bat, South Africa were looking good to go past 160 but Indian bowlers strangled them in the middle overs by not giving away easy freebies to score off. Wickets at regular intervals halted South Africa’s momentum going into the final five overs.

India’s inexperienced quick bowlers Navdeep Saini and Deepak Chahar were accurate with their yorkers and change of pace in the death overs. On a good batting wicket, India restricted South Africa to a meager 36 runs off the final six overs.

India’s pace bowling department is in very safe hands and thanks mainly to the Indian Premier League which has produced bowlers who can deliver under immense pressure.

Despite a very good final over in which 16 runs came, South Africa finished with only 149-5 which looked way below par on a good batting wicket and a fast outfield.

#3. King Kohli masters the chase yet again

Virat Kohli.

It may be a new season for Team India at home but it wasn’t any different for captain Virat Kohli as he aced another chase with a very skillful unbeaten 72 off just 52 balls. The quality of batsmanship was there for everyone to see and it was yet another master class from one of the best players of this generation.

After Rohit Sharma fell in the 4th over, Virat Kohli walked out to a loud cheer and from ball one looked in total command. Even in the shortest format, Kohli was always looking to play proper strokes and in the end finished with a strike rate of 138.

Kohli’s hallmark has always been the pacing of innings in any format and once again he did it to perfection as India finished with one over to spare.

One of the moments of the day was a nonchalant flick from him off Kagiso Rabada that went sailing over the square leg fielder for a maximum. It may not be a good sight for the premier fast bowler but cricket lovers would love to see that shot over and over again.

1-0 🇮🇳🇮🇳 #TeamIndia wrap the 2nd T20I by 7 wickets #INDvSA @paytm pic.twitter.com/GW0FBddf3k

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 18, 2019