Hardik Pandya delivered a stunning all-round display, smashing an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls and claiming a crucial wicket, as India demolished South Africa by 101 runs in the opening T20I at Barabati Stadium on Tuesday night. The victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20i series and saw South Africa slump to their lowest-ever T20I total.
South Africa captain Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to field first on a pitch that offered early assistance to the seamers. India got off to a rocky start, losing Shubman Gill (4) in the first over to Lungi Ngidi, who struck again to remove Suryakumar Yadav (12) soon after. Openers Abhishek Sharma (17) and Gill had provided a brief spark, but the innings wobbled at 48/3 after Abhishek’s dismissal.
Tilak Varma (26 off 32) and Axar Patel (23 off 21) steadied the ship with a 30-run stand, but Lutho Sipamla removed both to leave India at 104/5 in the 14th over. Enter Hardik Pandya, who turned the game on its head with a blistering counterattack. Batting at No. 6, Pandya hammered six fours and four sixes, racing to his fifty in just 25 balls. His partnerships with Shivam Dube (11) and Jitesh Sharma (10*) added vital runs, propelling India to 175/6. Ngidi was the standout bowler for South Africa with 3/31, while Sipamla claimed 2/38.
Chasing 176, South Africa’s innings unraveled spectacularly against India’s relentless bowling attack. Arshdeep Singh struck in the first over, dismissing Quinton de Kock (0) for a duck. Tristan Stubbs (14) followed soon after, caught behind off Arshdeep. Markram (14) offered some resistance but was bowled by Axar Patel, who also removed Anrich Nortje later.
Dewald Brevis top-scored with a fighting 22 off 14 balls, including three fours and a six, but his dismissal by Jasprit Bumrah – the pacer’s 100th T20I wicket – triggered a collapse. Pandya snared David Miller (1) with a sharp catch behind, while Varun Chakravarthy bamboozled Donovan Ferreira (5) and Marco Jansen (12) with his variations. Bumrah (2/17) and Chakravarthy (2/19) shone, with Arshdeep (2/14) and Axar (2/7) providing excellent support. Dube sealed the rout by dismissing Sipamla, bundling South Africa out for 74 in 12.3 overs – surpassing their previous low of 89.
Pandya, named Player of the Match for his magnificent all round performance, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav praised the team’s execution, especially the bowlers’ discipline.
This dominant performance – India’s third-largest T20I win by runs – sets a formidable tone for the series. The second T20I is scheduled on Friday, where South Africa will aim to regroup.
Brief Scores:
India 175/6 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 59*, Tilak Varma 26, Axar Patel 23; Lungi Ngidi 3/31, Lutho Sipamla 2/38).
South Africa 74 in 12.3 overs (Dewald Brevis 22, Aiden Markram 14, Tristan Stubbs 14; Jasprit Bumrah 2/17, Varun Chakravarthy 2/19, Arshdeep Singh 2/14, Axar Patel 2/7).
