South Africa bowled out for just 74 while all Indian bowlers take wickets.

Hardik Pandya Shines as India Crush South Africa in First T20I

“One player changed the whole game and that player was Hardik Pandya.”

India took a strong 1–0 lead in the T20I series after beating South Africa by 101 runs in the first match in Cuttack. Hardik Pandya, returning from injury, played the match of his life with a fast 59 off 28 balls* and a wicket.

South Africa, in reply, were bowled out for 74, their lowest total against India in T20 Internationals.

What Happened in the Match?

India were struggling at 78–4 when Pandya walked in. The pitch was not easy and the ball was moving, but Pandya decided to take charge.
With four sixes and six fours, he pushed India to a total of 175–6 in 20 overs.

South Africa could not handle India’s bowling. Every Indian bowler took at least one wicket, showing a complete team performance.

Why Did India Win So Easily?

India won for three main reasons:

1. Hardik Pandya’s fearless batting

He changed the momentum in just a few overs. His aggressive shots pushed South Africa under pressure even before they started batting.

2. Early wickets from Indian bowlers

Arshdeep Singh removed Quinton de Kock for a duck, and soon after, a clever review dismissed Tristan Stubbs. This broke South Africa’s confidence.

3. No partnerships for South Africa

The Proteas kept losing wickets one after another. Even when Dewald Brevis and Marco Jansen tried big hits, India kept the pressure tight.

How Did the Collapse Happen?

South Africa’s innings fell apart because:

• The pitch had bounce and swing
• Indian bowlers kept a perfect line
• No batsman stayed long enough to build momentum
• Panic set in after early wickets

Arshdeep, Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel each took two wickets, while Pandya dismissed David Miller.

A Big Boost for India

This strong win gives India confidence for the upcoming matches.
The second T20I will be played on Thursday in Chandigarh, where South Africa will try to bounce back and India will try to take a 2–0 lead.