Team India played like a team in the second T20I against South Africa on Wednesday. Right from toss till the winning runs were scored, India managed to completely outplay the South African team in most parts of the match. After the first game in Dharamshala was washed out, India defeated the Proteas by seven wickets in the second to take an unassailable lead in the three-match series.

The Indian skipper, Virat Kohli decided to bowl first and his decision turned out to be spot-on as India restricted the Proteas for a modest 149 for 5. Deepak Chahar was the pick of the bowlers, picking up 2 for just 22 from his four overs. None of the South African batsmen managed to get going and help their team. Quinton de Kock did manage to score a fifty but it was not one of his typical knocks.

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The Proteas skipper scored 52 from 37 balls. Debutant Temba Bavuma also scored 49 but hsi strike rate was too low for a T20I game. Thus the Proteas innings never really got the momentum as they somehow managed to score 149. The score was never going to pose a tough challenge for the hosts and Kohli’s impressive fifty further ensured it.

Rohit Sharma got out early and then Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan added 61 runs for the second wicket as India chased down the total by losing only three wickets and with one over remaining. The Men in Blue will now be looking to win the series in the final game in Bengaluru.

While almost everything went India’s way in the match, one thing that did not go their way was Rishabh Pant’s batting. The youngster has been going through a rough patch with the bat as he managed to score just four runs four before being dismissed. Pant has been getting consistent chances since the World Cup but he has failed to justify his place. 

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And former India opener Aakash Chopra reckons a change in batting position might do the trick for the young gloveman. Chopra took to Twitter to state that demoting Pant to number five while elevating Shreyas Iyer to number four can be a wise decision, tweeting: “Would’ve liked Iyer ahead of Pant. Batting at 4 suits Iyer more. Batting at 5 might work better for Pant #IndvSA”

Here is Aakash Chopra’s tweet: