India vs South Africa promised to be a cracker of a series, and the first T20I certainly did not disappoint. Onto the second T20 international then, with India looking to bounce back from that high-scoring defeat to the Proteas on Friday.
A wicket here, a decision there and the result might, probably would, have been different, but India and MS Dhoni cannot worry too much about that anymore. All they can do is put in another solid performance with the bat, a much better performance with the ball and hope someone like a JP Duminy or an AB De Villiers does not play a blinder again.
That is the problem, or charm, of T20 cricket – one player can take the game away from you in a few blinks of the eye.
Duminy, after surviving a couple of close lbw decisions, was that man in the first T20I, and the fans in Cuttack will hope it will be one of the India players who makes the difference on Monday.
One man who will want to make his innings count this time around will be Rohit Sharma, who scored a majestic century in the first T20 international, even if it went in vain in the end.
"It is always important to start a series well," Rohit told BCCI's official website. "I did have that in my mind when I went out to bat.
"My focus was on getting some runs in the very first game since it sets the tone for the rest of the series. I feel it is a good start.
"Obviously disappointed with the loss but we have to regroup as soon as we can and come back really strong."
Dhoni was clearly not too happy with the umpiring in the first T20 international, but what India also need to improve on, and the captain himself knows that pretty well, is the bowling. India just could not keep the pressure on, giving away plenty of runs in clumps, and Dhoni will hope the bowlers will have a better time of it in the second T20 international.
To be fair on the bowlers, though, there was very little on offer for them on that Dharamsala pitch, and they will hope for a little more assistance in Cuttack.
Knowing the way T20 wickets are made, though, just don't count on it.
2nd T20I schedule: Monday, 5 October: India vs South Africa
Time: 7 pm local time (3.30 pm SAST, 2.30 pm BST, 9.30 am ET).
Venue: Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.
TV: Star Sports 1, Star Sports 3 and DD National (India); Willow TV (USA); Sky Sports 2 (UK).
