After suffering a thrashing 101-run defeat in the five-match T20I series opener, the visitors South Africa made a solid comeback in the series by winning the second T20I by 51 runs at New Chandigarh to level the series with three matches to go. It was India's largest T20I defeat (by runs) at home.

After India sent the visitors to bat first, South African opener Quinton de Kock played a smashing knock of 90 off 46 balls that helped South Africa to manage a big total of 213/4 in 20 overs. At the end of the innings, Donovan Ferreira (30 not out off 16 balls) and David Miller (20 not out off 12 balls) had brilliant cameos. 

Chasing down the big target, the hosts were never on the chase due to losing regular wickets, as they were all out for 162 runs in 19.1 overs, where Ottneil Baartman delivered the record T20I bowling figures by a South African against India (4-0-24-4). Only Tilak Varma managed to put some strong fightback in the chase, as the left-handed batter smashed 62 off 34 balls. 

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India suffered second-largest T20I defeat by runs

While South Africa won by 51 runs, it was India's largest home T20I defeat by runs. Their previous record was losing by 49 runs against South Africa in the 2022 Indore T20I. Meanwhile, the 51-run defeat was also India's second-largest T20I defeat by runs, while their record was losing by 80 runs against New Zealand during the 2019 Wellington T20I.

India's largest T20I defeats (by runs)