IND vs SA T20: South Africa were bowled out for 74, their lowest-ever T20I total, as India stormed to a thumping 102-run win despite being put in to bat on a challenging pitch.
With a home T20 World Cup just months away, India showed that not even the dreaded scenario of batting first on a damp, two-paced pitch will hinder their title defence. Hardik Pandya was named player of the match for his match-winning performance with bat and ball, making 59 runs and taking 1 wicket.
Early Indian Struggles on a Sticky Surface
Batting was always going to be dicey on a surface that was expected to get easier later because of dew, and so it showed right from the first over. The returning Shubman Gill and the captain Suryakumar Yadav both miscued drives off Lungi Ngidi to mid-off and mid-on, respectively.
Inserting three left-handers in the middle order-Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Axar Patel-to counter Keshav Maharaj did not work for India. Tilak and Axar combined for just 49 off 53 balls as South Africa’s tall pacers extracted uncomfortable bounce.
Abhishek, off strike early, did try to break the shackles, but was dismissed for 17 off 12, courtesy another stunning catch from Marco Jansen.
Hardik Pandya’s Counterattack Turns the Game
Coming in at 78 for 4 in the 12th over, Hardik Pandya came in at a time when India were in very real danger of posting an underwhelming total. Aiden Markram introduced Maharaj expecting Hardik’s historic struggles against left-arm spin, but the Indian all-rounder flipped the narrative.
Hardik launched two no-look sixes off Maharaj and then took the returning Anrich Nortje apart, first with finesse and then with power. India plundered 30 runs off the final two overs, Hardik racing to 59 off 28 and becoming only the fourth Indian to hit 100 T20I sixes. His heroics lifted India to a competitive 175, a total that looked formidable on a pitch that was gradually quickening.
IND vs SA T20: Arshdeep Sets the Tone With the New Ball
India needed early breakthroughs on a pitch that was supposed to settle under lights and Arshdeep Singh provided just that. He first removed Quinton de Kock for a duck with a beautiful away-swinger, and then switched to wobble-seam in his next over to remove the dangerous Tristan Stubbs. Wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma supported brilliantly with sharp glove work, taking three excellent catches on the night.
Spinners drive India ahead, Bumrah reaches 100 T20I wickets
Though stroke-making appeared fractionally easier than in the first innings, South Africa never strung a partnership longer than 16 balls. Dewald Brevis attempted counterattacking Varun Chakravarthy, but Aiden Markram’s removal, bowled by Axar, arrested further momentum.
The impact created by Hardik continued as he removed David Miller first ball, again aided by a sharp catch from Jitesh. Varun Chakravarthy then sent back Donovan Ferreira and Marco Jansen with variations in pace.
Bumrah wrapped up the tail to reach the elite milestone of 100 T20I wickets. He became only the fifth bowler globally to achieve triple-format 100-wicket marks. Shivam Dube provided the finishing touch, reinforcing the selectors’ decision to pick him over Rinku Singh due to his bowling utility.
Final Verdict The IND vs SA T20 opener showcased depth, adaptability, and championship intent from India. Coming back from a dire start, using contributors from every department, and bowling perfectly, India surged to the dominant lead of 1-0, sending an early warning to World Cup rivals.
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