Hardik Pandya’s all-round performance, along with collective efforts from the bowlers, handed India a 101-run victory in the first T20I against South Africa at the Barabati Stadium. With this win, the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, kicking off their T20 World Cup 2026 preparations in style.
Defending 176 runs, the Men in Blue got off to a dream start as Arshdeep Singh dismissed Quinton de Kock for a duck off just the second delivery of the innings. Tristan Stubbs looked to get going, but his stay was cut short by Arshdeep, who claimed his second wicket in the third over.
Rassie van der Dussen and Dewald Brevis attempted to steady the innings, but a change in bowling—introducing Axar Patel inside the powerplay—led to the Protea skipper falling for a run-a-ball 14. Returning to the attack after a long gap, Hardik Pandya struck with his first ball, dismissing the dangerous David Miller for another crucial breakthrough.
South Africa’s batting crumbled as Indian bowlers continued to pick wickets at regular intervals. Marco Jansen provided a brief spark with a couple of sixes, but Varun Chakaravarthy trapped him, further exposing the visitors’ fragility.
Jasprit Bumrah, just one wicket shy of 100 T20I scalps, reached the milestone by dismissing Dewald Brevis in the 11th over, and doubled the celebrations by claiming Keshav Maharaj’s wicket in the same over. The Proteas lost their ninth wicket in the 12th over when Anrich Nortje was dismissed by Axar Patel. Shivam Dube added the final touch, taking a fine catch to send Lutho Sipamla back, leaving South Africa all out for their lowest ever T20I total of 74.
Earlier, Shubman Gill’s much-awaited return was short-lived as Lungi Ngidi removed him in the opening over and also struck again to dismiss Suryakumar Yadav, leaving India unsettled. Captain Suryakumar briefly counterattacked with a six and a four, including his signature ‘supla’ stroke, before falling to a mistimed shot.
Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma steadied the innings, taking India to 40/2 at the end of the powerplay. However, the dismissal of Sharma to Lutho Sipamla halted momentum. The middle overs dragged as Varma and Axar Patel struggled for fluency, with Varma eventually perishing for 26 off 32. Axar offered support, but it was Pandya’s commanding knock that defined the innings. The all-rounder struck six boundaries and four sixes, taking India’s total to a competitive 175/6. Cameos from Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma added crucial late runs.
On a pitch that made even routine strokes challenging, Pandya played an innings of exceptional quality. While Tilak Varma and Axar Patel showed promise but failed to fully deliver, South Africa’s bowlers, led by Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen, kept taking timely wickets. Amid the struggle, Pandya remained largely untroubled, shifting gears with clarity and confidence to swing the contest in India’s favour.
With India now leading the series, the second T20I will be played on Thursday at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
Brief Scores: India 175/6 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 59*, Tilak Varma 26; Lungi Ngidi 3-31, Lutho Sipamla 2-38) beat South Africa 74 all out (Dewald Brevis 22, Tristan Stubbs 14; Axar Patel 2-7, Arshdeep Singh 2-14) by 101 runs.
–IANS
