IND v SA 2nd T20: India eyes maiden series win on SA soil

India’s life has become easier with each match on this tour of South Africa, and it is now on the brink of history once more. The host hasn’t been helped by its key players getting injured, with AB de Villiers the latest casualty.

Read: Sunrisers sunshine, give India series lead

Ahead of the second Twenty20 International, Sportstar looks at the stats that matter:

Tour win in sight for India

The ongoing three-match T20I series is the first between these teams on South African soil; three one-off T20 Internationals had alone been played before this tour.

The in-form India has an opportunity to seal the T20I series as well on the back of winning the ODI series 5-1. A series victory will also mean India wins this tour 2-1, bouncing back from the Test series loss.

2k club awaits Kohli

Virat Kohli began this series 44 adrift of 2000 T20I runs. And, after making 26 in the first match, now needs only 18 runs to become the third batsman, after the New Zealand duo of Brendon McCullum (2140) and Martin Guptill (2250), to reach this milestone. Playing only his 57th T20I and 53rd innings, Kohli will become the fastest to reach 2000 runs in this format. 

Read: Before and after Brendon

Stiffness in his glute muscle had forced Kohli off the field towards the latter part of the first T20 International, but if he is fit to play, the Indian captain can be expected to reach this milestone.

Win toss, bat first

Two of the three night matches, which start at 18:00 local time, have been won by the team batting first. And overall, teams batting first have won five (83.33 per cent) of the six T20I matches at this venue.