India’s stand-in T20I skipper Rishabh Pant did not make any changes to the side for the second T20I at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack. Pant showed his faith in the bowling attack despite failing to defend a big score in the series opener.
On the other hand, Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma made two changes after winning the toss and opting to field first. Bavuma had to make two forced changes as Quinton de Kock got injured. Wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen made a comeback whereas Tristan Stubbs made way for Reeza Hendricks. Bavuma revealed that Hendricks will open the innings with him in absence of De Kock.
“We don't know how the wicket will play. It was easier to bat second in the last game. You can chase anything with smaller boundaries. You need to stay in the fight as bowlers. We have two forced injuries. QDK has a hammy injury,” Bavuma said after winning the toss.
“We would have bowled first as well. The track is really nice. We would want to have a big score on this. There wasn't many things we did wrong. We are playing the same team,” Pant said after losing the toss.
India lost the first T20I of the five-T20I series despite posting a total of 211/4. David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen pulled off a record run chase with their respective half-centuries. It was the highest run chase in the format against India.
IND XI: Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan
SA XI: Temba Bavuma(c), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Dwaine Pretorius, Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje
