Ruthless India thrash South Africa by 101 runs in 1st T20I at Cuttack
India thrashed South Africa by 101 runs as the visitors collapsed for a meagre 74 in the opening T20I at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday. India had earlier posted 175/6 thanks to a rescue act by Hardik Pandya.
All six bowlers used by India were among the wickets, with the South African innings lasting just 12.3 overs.
The South African procession back to the dressing room began when Arshdeep Singh struck with the second ball of the innings, dispatching Quinton de Kock for a duck. The wicketkeeper-batsman edged a delivery into the hands of Abhishek Sharma at second slip.
Arshdeep would strike again in his next over, having Tristan Stubbs caught behind by wicket keeper Jitesh Sharma for 14. The on-field umpire gave it not out but India reviewed and got the decision in their favour.
Left arm spinner Axar Patel was introduced in the sixth over and bagged a wicket with his very first delivery, castling skipper Aiden Markram for 14.
Following his heroics with the bat, Hardik Pandya gave India another breakthrough with the ball as David Miller was caught behind by Jitesh for just one.
Varun Chakravarthy then joined the party by removing Donovan Ferreira for five, with Jitesh taking his third catch of the innings, as South Africa slumped to 50/5 in the eighth over.
In Varun's next over, the dangerman Marco Jansen smashed him for a six over midwicket, but he was castled off the very next ball for 12.
The tail did not wag, with the last four wickets falling for just six runs.
With the wicket of Dewald Brevis, Jasprit Bumrah became the second Indian after Arshdeep Singh to get 100 wickets in T20Is. He also became the first Indian to get 100 wickets in all three formats of international cricket.
Earlier, a breezy unbeaten 59 by Pandya lifted India to 175/6 after the top order failed to fire. Pandya smashed six fours and four sixes in his 28-ball knock.
South Africa made early inroads after choosing to bowl, with Lungi Ngidi striking in each of his first two overs to peg back India. Returning from injury, Shubman Gill lasted just two balls, falling for four to a catch by Marco Jansen at mid-off.
In Ngidi's second over, skipper Suryakumar Yadav struck a four and a six before offering a catch to his opposite number Aiden Markram at mid-on after making 12.
Abhishek Sharma had made a watchful start before beginning to switch gears with successive boundaries off Lutho Sipamla. But the bowler had the last laugh, having him brilliantly caught by Jansen at fine-leg.
Ngidi bagged a third wicket, removing Tilak Varma for 26, with Jansen being the catcher once again.
Axar Patel also got a start but failed to carry on, falling for 23 to Sipamla, leaving India at 104/5 at the end of 14 overs. It was not Shivam Dube's day either, with the all-rounder being castled by Donovan Ferreira for just 11. But India managed to post a competitive score on the board thanks to Pandya's late fireworks.
The match sets the stage for the five-match series that marks the final chapter of India’s long home tour. With dew expected later in the evening, South Africa opted to chase in conditions likely to ease for batting.
For India, the series signals the start of their preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup on home soil, with captain Suryakumar Yadav leading a side that has been dominant in the shortest format. The hosts also welcome back vice-captain Shubman Gill and all-rounder Hardik Pandya, both returning after injury layoffs. Jasprit Bumrah, spearheading the attack, stands one wicket away from becoming the first Indian to take 100 international wickets across all three formats.
The series comes on the heels of a mixed campaign across formats. India were handed a 0-2 whitewash in the Tests but bounced back to clinch the ODI series 2-1 under stand-in skipper KL Rahul. South Africa, meanwhile, are eyeing redemption after losing their last T20I series against India 3-1 at home.
PLAYING XI
India: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (capt), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donnovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi.