NEW DELHI: Quinton de Kock produced a stunning exhibition of clean hitting, smashing an effortless 90 off 46 balls to propel South Africa to a formidable 213/4 in the second T20I against India in Mullanpur on Thursday.

Batting on a true surface and in full rhythm, de Kock looked every bit the sublime stroke-maker he is known to be. He peppered the leg-side boundary with ease, with most of his seven towering sixes sailing over deep square leg as India's bowlers struggled to contain him.

Having recently reversed his ODI retirement and uncertain about his T20 future after last year's World Cup, de Kock appeared reinvigorated and hungry. This blazing knock - coming less than a week before the IPL mini-auction - is certain to trigger fresh interest and possibly a bidding frenzy for the multi-dimensional South African star.

India, having won a rare toss, opted to bowl first - a decision that came as no surprise. But Arshdeep Singh, who dismissed de Kock in the series opener, found himself on the wrong side of the contest this time, taking the brunt of de Kock's onslaught.

De Kock began the assault with a pick up shot for six off Arshdeep before pulling the left-arm pacer for a maximum over deep mid-wicket.

Jasprit Bumrah too conceded 16 runs in his second over after being disdainfully pulled for six by Reeza Hendricks. The right-hander missed a skidder from Varun Chakravarthy in the following over to give India a welcome breakthrough but De Kock maintained the pressure on the opposition, taking his team to 53-1 in the powerplay.

Brought back into the attack in 11th over, Arshdeep lost his usual calm under pressure after being smashed for a six down the ground by De Kock. The Indian pacer tried to bowl wide yorkers from thereon but failed miserably and ended up bowling as many as seven wides in a 18-run over.

The South African opener looked certain to cross the 100-run mark for the second time in his T20 career but was run out in a bizarre fashion by wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma after attempting a non existent single.

The big hits kept coming even after de Kock's fall with Donavan Ferreria (30 not off 16) and David Miller (20 not out off 12) doing the damage in the death overs.

Arshdeep's new ball partner Bumrah too had an off day and conceded 18 runs in the 20th over after being hammered for two towering sixes by Ferreira.

India leaked 123 runs in the last 10 overs.

(With PTI Inputs)