New Delhi, Dec 10 (NationPress) Former South African cricketer Dale Steyn dissected India's impressive display against the Proteas, emphasizing that the hosts demonstrated to the visitors how to excel on a sporting wicket.

The Men in Blue showcased their serious ambitions for the 2026 T20 World Cup with a dominant showing in the first T20I of the five-match series against South Africa.

South Africa, known for thriving in conditions that usually play to their strengths, stumbled early in their innings, which Steyn found both surprising and disappointing.

In pursuit of a target of 176, the Proteas collapsed for just 74 runs, marking their lowest-ever total in this format and suffering a heavy defeat by 101 runs.

“It’s challenging. Not difficult to analyze how they batted, but it’s certainly a bitter pill to swallow because these are conditions South Africa should know well. At home, there’s often some movement and seam, which we saw when they bowled. Therefore, one would assume the message to the batters would be to survive the initial nine or ten overs, assess the situation, and then build innings—much like how Hardik Pandya played. Instead, there seemed to be a sense of urgency without genuine aggression,” Steyn expressed on JioStar.

He further noted that India’s new-ball performance was pivotal, stating, “If India aimed to win, they needed to make the new ball perform, and they succeeded. Sure, there were one or two unfortunate dismissals, like inside edges to the wicketkeeper, but that’s still a result of effective bowling in the right areas, trying to drive the ball on the up.”

Steyn compared this situation to England's recent difficulties in Australia, warning against misplaced ultra-aggression, highlighting South Africa's lack of experience in crucial moments.

“We also saw signs of inexperience, such as Brevis targeting Bumrah towards the end. The match was already lost, but one needs to choose their battles wisely. Bumrah is the best white-ball bowler globally. If greats like de Villiers struggled consistently against him, it’s unrealistic to expect a young player to succeed. Patience is key,” he advised.

Steyn also commented on Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy, commending his poise and clarity.

“With the support of your team and comfort in your surroundings, you can have candid discussions with your players. When you’re not worried about your position or captaincy, you can prioritize the team's needs and ask, ‘What’s best for the individual? What’s best for the team?’ That’s the kind of captain everyone desires—someone secure, approachable, and willing to adapt for the collective benefit,” he remarked on the Indian captain.

He concluded with strong praise for India, stating, “There’s much to analyze from this match, but credit goes to India for playing a flawless game. Hardik Pandya batted brilliantly, and their bowling was outstanding. They demonstrated to South Africa how to perform on a sporting wicket.