Gautam Gambhir and Arshdeep Singh's intense moment (Source: AFP)
South Africa stunned India with a dominant 51-run win in the second T20I, leveling the series 1–1. The match was a complete reversal of India’s earlier 101-run victory. On this difficult night for the Indian side, head coach Gautam Gambhir’s reactions quickly became the most talked-about moments of the game.
Arshdeep Singh’s 13-ball over leaves Gambhir fuming
The moment that summed up India’s struggles came during Arshdeep Singh’s chaotic 13-ball over. Bowling to Quinton de Kock, Arshdeep was smashed for a six on the very first ball. Things only went downhill from there, as he delivered seven wides in the same over, failing repeatedly to control the ball outside the off-stump line.
The over ended up costing India 18 runs, equaling the T20I record for the most deliveries bowled in a single over.
Gambhir could not hide his frustration. Cameras captured him shouting in anger, and the clip spread quickly on social media.
The handshake that spoke louder than words
After the match, another moment involving Gautam Gambhir caught public attention was his tense and visibly angry handshake with Arshdeep Singh. The usually formal post-match greeting turned unusually intense, with Gambhir offering a tight, forced nod and a firm grip that looked far from friendly.
Fans noted that Gambhir’s expression showed clear disappointment. The short clip went viral, adding to the growing debate over Gambhir’s straightforward coaching style.
India’s performance fades in chase
Chasing a challenging target of 214, India were bowled out for 162. Tilak Varma offered hope with a brilliant 62 off 34 balls, while Jitesh Sharma (27) and Hardik Pandya (20) added small contributions. However, no strong partnerships developed, leaving India far behind the asking rate.
The bowlers also struggled. Pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep finished wicketless. Only Varun Chakravarthy picked up two wickets, with Axar Patel adding one. With the series now tied, India will need to regroup quickly and come back strongly in the 3rd T20I.
