India opened the five-match T20I series against South Africa with a commanding 101-run victory at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, driven by Hardik Pandya’s blistering unbeaten 59 and Jasprit Bumrah’s entry into cricket’s elite club of bowlers with 100 T20I wickets. After posting 175/6 on a challenging surface, India’s bowlers dismantled South Africa for just 74 — the Proteas’ lowest total in T20I history — sealing a comprehensive win that sets the tone for the remainder of the series.

Key Takeaways from IND vs SA 1st T20 Highlights and India’s Dominant Win

• Hardik Pandya made a stunning comeback with 59 off 28*, hitting six fours and four sixes.
  
• Jasprit Bumrah became the first Indian to take 100 wickets in all three international formats.
  
• South Africa were skittled out for 74, their lowest-ever T20I score.
  
• India posted 175/6 despite being 78/4 at one stage.
  
• All six Indian bowlers claimed at least one wicket, showcasing exceptional depth.
  
• Lungi Ngidi led South Africa’s bowling with 3/31, while Sipamla picked up 2/38.
  
• India take a 1–0 lead, marking their first T20I win against South Africa in Cuttack.
  

India Overcome Early Trouble After South Africa Choose to Field

South Africa opted to bowl first, banking on early movement and a surface offering uneven bounce. The decision initially paid off. Shubman Gill struck a boundary off his first ball but fell moments later to Lungi Ngidi. Captain Suryakumar Yadav also departed early, edging a mistimed stroke for 12.

Abhishek Sharma showed promise with 17 off 12 before Marco Jansen produced a spectacular diving catch at fine leg to cut short his innings. Tilak Varma attempted to anchor the innings with a patient 26 off 32, but India continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Axar Patel added a steady 23, yet at 78/4, India were under pressure.

Hardik Pandya Shifts Momentum with a Dominant Counterattack

Walking in under pressure after months out due to a quadricep injury, Hardik Pandya transformed India’s innings with a breathtaking display of controlled aggression. He launched two no-look sixes off Keshav Maharaj to signal his intent and then took on the South African pacers with remarkable clarity.

His strike-rate soared past 210 as he maneuvered Nortje’s pace, punished Sipamla at the death, and accelerated India’s innings beyond South Africa’s reach. His fifty arrived through an inventive ramp shot, making him only the fourth Indian to reach 100 sixes in T20Is. Jitesh Sharma added a sharp 10* off 5 to push India to 175/6 by the end of 20 overs.

India’s Fall of Wickets

1. 1–5 — Gill
   
2. 2–17 — Suryakumar
   
3. 3–48 — Abhishek
   
4. 4–78 — Tilak
   
5. 5–104 — Axar
   
6. 6–137 — Dube
   

South Africa’s Bowlers Manage Early Control but Fade at the Finish

South Africa’s best phase came in the middle overs. Ngidi bowled with bounce and precision for his 3/31, dismissing Gill, Suryakumar, and Tilak. Lutho Sipamla, though expensive, claimed two crucial scalps. Nortje and Maharaj, however, leaked runs as Pandya shifted momentum decisively.

Despite the early control, South Africa conceded 30 runs in the final two overs, a passage of play that ultimately proved decisive.

South Africa Collapse Under Relentless Indian Bowling

Chasing 176, South Africa needed a strong start but instead suffered an immediate setback. Arshdeep Singh removed Quinton de Kock for a duck in the first over. Tristan Stubbs briefly counterattacked with two boundaries but was undone by Arshdeep’s wobble-seam delivery, confirmed via DRS.

Aiden Markram looked composed with 14 off 14 but was bowled by Axar Patel’s very first delivery. From there, the collapse intensified:

• David Miller (1) edged Hardik Pandya
  
• Dewald Brevis (22), the lone resistance, fell to Bumrah
  
• Donovan Ferreira (5) and Marco Jansen (12) succumbed to Varun Chakravarthy
  
• The tail offered no challenge as Axar and Dube finished off the innings
  

South Africa were bowled out for 74 in just 12.3 overs, marking the lowest T20I total in their history.

Complete Bowling Performance Defines India’s Victory

India’s bowlers delivered a flawless collective effort:

Bumrah’s 100th T20I wicket — and his entry into the exclusive club of bowlers with 100 wickets in all formats — marked one of the match’s defining moments.

India’s Dominant Start Raises the Stakes for the Series

India’s emphatic 101-run win in Cuttack was more than a series lead — it was a statement of intent ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 preparations. Hardik Pandya’s match-winning return, Bumrah’s historic milestone, and a unified bowling performance underlined India’s depth and readiness.

South Africa now travel to Mullanpur for the second T20I on December 11, requiring a significant turnaround to stay competitive against a confident Indian unit.

Also Read: India vs South Africa 1st T20I: Full Preview, Team Updates, Pitch, Weather, Probable XIs and Streaming Details

India’s Statement Victory Sets Up a High-Intensity Series Ahead

India’s triumph in the IND vs SA 1st T20 was a blend of individual brilliance and collective discipline. Pandya’s explosive comeback, Bumrah’s historic achievement, and India’s clinical bowling dismantled a strong South African side.

With momentum on their side and a 1–0 lead secured, India look set to dominate the remainder of the series, while South Africa face a stern test to regroup and respond.

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