Cuttack, Dec 9 (NationPress) Hardik Pandya's outstanding all-round display, combined with the collective efforts of the bowlers, secured India a commanding 101-run victory in the opening T20I against South Africa at the Barabati Stadium. This victory gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, marking a strong start to their T20 World Cup 2026 preparations.

While defending a total of 176 runs, the Indian team had a sensational beginning as Arshdeep Singh dismissed Quinton de Kock for a duck on the second ball of the innings. Tristan Stubbs aimed to accelerate but was sent back by the Indian pacer, who quickly secured his second wicket in the third over.

Markram and Dewald Brevis tried to regain momentum, but a change in bowling introduced Axar Patel, leading to the Protea captain's dismissal for 14 runs off 14 balls.

Making his return to bowling for India after a significant break, Hardik Pandya struck on his very first delivery, sending David Miller back to the pavilion, marking a crucial breakthrough.

The South African batting lineup faltered as the Indian bowlers consistently picked wickets. Although Marco Jansen provided a brief spark with a couple of sixes, Varun Chakaravarthy dismissed him, plunging the visitors further into trouble.

Bumrah was on the verge of reaching 100 T20I wickets and achieved this milestone by getting rid of Dewald Brevis in the 11th over, then followed it up by claiming Keshav Maharaj's wicket in the same over. The Proteas soon lost their ninth wicket, as Anrich Nortje returned to the dugout, thanks to Axar.

Shivam Dube sealed South Africa's fate with a brilliant catch by Abhishek Sharma, resulting in Lutho Sipamla's dismissal. Consequently, South Africa was bowled out for their lowest score in T20I history, finishing with only 74 runs.

On the batting side, Shubman Gill's much-anticipated return was cut short as Lungi Ngidi dismissed him in the first over. The pacer struck again to send Suryakumar Yadav back, leaving India in a precarious position early on. Captain Suryakumar briefly fought back with a six and a four, including his signature ‘supla’ stroke, before succumbing to a mis-timed shot.

Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma stabilized the innings, guiding India to 40/2 by the end of the powerplay, but the opener's exit to Lutho Sipamla disrupted the flow. The middle overs were slow, with Varma and Axar Patel struggling before Varma fell after scoring 26 runs off 32 balls.

Axar provided some support, but the innings relied heavily on Pandya's commanding performance. The all-rounder scored six boundaries and four sixes, significantly boosting India's total with an explosive finish. Contributions from Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma added crucial runs in the final stages.

On a pitch that turned even simple shots into challenging ones, Pandya delivered an innings of extraordinary quality. With the surface gripping and the ball not coming on, India's top order struggled for rhythm; both Tilak Varma and Axar Patel had potential but fell short. South Africa tightened their grip through Lungi Ngidi's triple strike and Marco Jansen's frugal overs, eliminating batters just as partnerships seemed to form.

Despite the challenges, Pandya appeared immune to the conditions. He displayed clarity and confidence, shifting gears effectively and swinging the match back in India’s favor. His innings ensured India remained competitive, despite the pitch and South African bowlers' pressures.

With India now ahead in the series, the two teams are set to clash in the second T20I on Thursday at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.

Brief Scores: India 175/6 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 59*, Tilak Varma 26; Lungi Ngidi 3-31, Lutho Sipamla 2-38) defeated South Africa (Dewald Brevis 22, Tristan Stubbs 14; Axar Patel 2-7, Arshdeep Singh 2-14) by 101 runs.