IND Win By 101 Runs | India vs South Africa Highlights of 1st T20I 2025: Hardik Pandya, Bowlers Help India Secure Dominant Victory

That's It! A solid performance from Team India which results in victory. Initially it looked like India are in a spot of bother while batting first, but Hardik Pandya scored a sensational half-century and turned the tide. Since then, India have had the upper hand and they have controlled proceedings. Indian bowlers gave absolutely no chance to South Africa and wrapped their innings up for only 74 runs. Solid start to the series by India. 

Out! Jasprit Bumrah strikes again in the same over. South Africa have not been able to put up any fight at all and they keep tumbling down. It was short of length ball, Keshav Maharaj tried to pull it, but only got a top edge which looped to the hands of wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma. India are nearing victory. Maharaj c Jitesh Sharma b Bumrah 0(2).

Out! South Africa's collapse continues. They can't get bat on ball and India keep on dominating. First Varun Chakaravarthy made a delivery turn sharply in to clean up Marco Jansen. Then Dewald Brevis threw the kitchen sink at every delivery at got a top edge off a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah and got caught inside the circle. India are dominating here. Brevis c Suryakumar Yadav b Bumrah 22(14) and Marco Jansen b Varun Chakaravarthy 12(12).

Out! South Africa are down to their last reserves. It is Varun Chakaravarthy, who strikes this time. Pushes Donovan Ferreira on the backfoot and gets the ball to bounce off the deck. Ferreira goes for the guide but only gets a faint edge to the hands of Jitesh Sharma. South Africa are in a very tight position now. Ferreira c Jitesh Sharma b Varun Chakaravarthy 5(7).

Out! South Africa keep sinking in the abyss. Hardik Pandya came into the attack just after powerplay. Bowled a good length delivery to the batter and it seamed off enough to take the edge of the bat and go the hands of the wicketkeeper. David Miller is the one to depart and he could barely contribute. India on top here.  Miller c Jitesh Sharma b Hardik Pandya 1(3).

Out! It has been all-action in the second innings in the first six overs. In the last over, Dewald Brevis attacked Varun Chakaravarthy and found two boundaries. Next over, Axar Patel gets the better of Aiden Markram. Markram goes to the backfoot to negotiate a length ball from Axar, but the ball skids on with the arm to take his legstump out. Trouble for South Africa. India are elated. Markram b Axar 14(14).

Out! South Africa suffer another blow and it is Arshdeep Singh again. Inswinger into the stumps, Tristan Stubbs tries to punch it down the ground but the ball moves enough to take an inside edge, hit the elbow of Stubbs and go to the hands of the wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma. India are on the top here with double blow.  Stubbs c Jitesh Sharma b Arshdeep Singh 14(9).

Out! Quinton de Kock departs without opening the scoring. It is his matchup Arshdeep Singh again who strikes. The ball was moving away from him and de Kock went for a push. Ended up getting a healthy edge which carried comfortably to the slip cordon. South Africa suffer early blow. de Kock c Abhishek Sharma b Arshdeep Singh 0(2).

That's It! India get to a competitive score powered by a brilliant half-century from Hardik Pandya. He was batting on a different surface since he came on to the crease and has been in a demolishing mood even against superfast bowlers like Anrich Nortje. South Africa will be unhappy with their performance in the end overs. They will have a challenging task in hand. 

Hardik Pandya's quickfire knock has completely changed the momentum of the game and now India are on the frontfoot taking the attack to the South African bowlers. Jitesh Sharma has joined in as well and the duo has setup India for a strong finish. 

Out! Axar Patel departs after landing a good hit. Got a slot ball earlier and deposited it in the stands. Next ball was a change of pace on length and it got big on Axar who tried to guide it on the offside. Ended up hitting it straight to the hands of the point fielder. Big wicket for South Africa.  Axar c Ferreira b Sipamla 23(21).

Out! Tilak Varma departs after playing a laborious knock. He tried to stabilise the Indian innings but struggled to get going after one point of time. Went desperately for a big shot against Lungi Ngidi and could only hit it straight to the hands of the deep fine leg fielder. Lungi Ngidi gets another breakthrough. Tilak Varma c Marco Jansen b Ngidi 26(32).

India did not get a solid start in the powerplay and lost three wickets in the first seven overs. As South Africa attempt to tighten their grip on the Indian middle order, Tilak Varma has tried to counter by steadying India's ship. 

Out! Big wicket for South Africa. Abhishek Sharma was eyeing Lutho Sipamla as the opportunity to break free and up the ante, but he ended up mistiming a pull to a leg-sidish half tracker to the hands of the fine leg fielder. It was a difficult catch but in the end Marco Jansen ran in and dived to complete the catch. Some sensational fielding on display. Abhishek Sharma c Marco Jansen b Sipamla 17(12).

Out! Suryakumar Yadav departs. It is Lungi Ngidi who strikes again. Suryakumar Yadav found two boundaries in two balls earlier but this time, there was change of pace and Suryakumar mistimed his flick. The ball went straight up and the mid-on fielder settled to take an easy catch. India lose two early. Suryakumar Yadav c Markram b Ngidi 12(11).

Out! Not the best of comeback for Shubman Gill. He was under pressure of attacking early and charged at Lungi Ngidi. Only got a mistimed connection and the mid-off fielder ran back to complete an easy catch. Early breakthrough for South Africa. Gill c Marco Jansen b Ngidi 4(2).

South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram(c), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje.

India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh.

Toss Update: South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first. 

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