Hardik Pandya marked his return with an unbeaten half century and two crucial wickets as India bulldozed South Africa by 101 runs in the first T20I at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday. The victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the five match series and a confident start to their 2026 T20 World Cup preparation.
Pandya Lifts India from Early Trouble
Pandya’s 28 ball 59 not out rescued India from a jittery 48 for 3 and propelled them to 175 for 6. His innings, studded with six boundaries and four sixes, arrived on a surface that punished anything less than precise timing.
I had to back my shots. I realised the wicket had a bit of spice. I had to be a bit gutsy. It was more about timing the ball, not breaking the ball. I was very satisfied with the way I was batting.
He added that the return felt rewarding after months of rehabilitation.
The last six seven months have been great from my fitness point of view. These last 50 days, being away from loved ones, being at NCA, making sure that all these things are covered. It was satisfying when you came here, the results come like this."
South Africa Blown Away in Under 13 Overs
Arshdeep Singh set the tone by removing Quinton de Kock for a duck in the second ball of the chase. He struck again soon after to dismiss Tristan Stubbs as South Africa slipped early.
Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis attempted a brief revival before Axar Patel’s early introduction ended the stand. Pandya returned with the ball and immediately removed David Miller, after which the South African innings unravelled rapidly.
Marco Jansen briefly flickered with two clean sixes, but Varun Chakravarthy bowled him to extinguish the last hint of resistance.
Jasprit Bumrah reached the milestone of 100 T20I wickets by dismissing Dewald Brevis and then Keshav Maharaj in the same over, tightening India’s grip further. Axar removed Anrich Nortje and Shivam Dube closed the innings as Lutho Sipamla fell for the final wicket.
South Africa were bowled out for 74, their lowest ever T20I score.
Markram Admits Batting Collapse Cost Them
South Africa captain Aiden Markram put the defeat down to poor batting.
There was some good form with the ball and field. Some boxes ticked, but the batting went downhill. Pity that it happened in the first game. Felt it was quite sticky, some tennis ball bounce. We would have taken 175 at the toss. We did not have a lot of partnerships. We will have a brief conversation around it.
India’s Top Order Tested Before Pandya’s Surge
Shubman Gill’s much anticipated return ended quickly as Lungi Ngidi dismissed him in the opening over and soon added Suryakumar Yadav to his tally. Suryakumar countered with a brief burst, including his trademark supla shot, before falling.
Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma steadied the innings, but momentum stalled again when Abhishek fell to Lutho Sipamla. Tilak struggled for rhythm and departed for 26 off 32. Axar Patel offered support before Pandya’s entry transformed the innings.
Arshdeep Enjoys the Conditions
Arshdeep, who initiated South Africa’s slide, said the plan was simple.
Thought process is simple, just go there and use as much as there in the wicket. If you are hitting the seam hard, there was something in the wicket. The idea was to hit the seam hard and get something out of the wicket.
"I just told him, Welcome to the 100 club. I am just trying to enjoy the present and have fun. It is very rare that you get to play on such wickets where there is swing and seam. I just wanted to stay disciplined."
The teams now move to New Chandigarh for the second T20I on Thursday.
Brief Scores: India 175 for 6 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 59 not out, Tilak Varma 26, Lungi Ngidi 3 for 31, Lutho Sipamla 2 for 38) Beat South Africa 74 all out in 12.3 overs (Dewald Brevis 22, Tristan Stubbs 14, Axar Patel 2 for 7, Jasprit Bumrah 2 for 17) By 101 runs.
