IND vs SA 2025-26, 1st T20I, Highlights: Hardik Pandya’s all-round brilliance, disciplined bowling seal a big win at Cuttack.
Brief Scores: Ind 175/6 (Hardik Pandya 59*, Lungi Ngidi 3/31) beat SA 74 (Dewald Brevis 22, Axar Patel 2/7, Arshdeep Singh 2/14) by 101 runs and go 1-0 up.
Player of the match: Hardik Pandya (59* and 1/16).
After Team India’s 2-1 ODI series victory against South Africa, the focus shifted to the start of the five-match T20I series. The series promised to be a chance for both sides to test their plans ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
The opening clash at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack featured a red soil surface with some grass on it. Beneath the grass, there were cracks, posing questions for batters. The hard surface was expected to help the batters once the dew settled in the latter stages.
South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram, won the toss and unsurprisingly decided to bowl first. Keshav Maharaj was their only premier spinner. Anrich Nortje returned to the eleven after his injury. The Blue Brigade welcomed bothShubman Gill and Hardik Pandya, who recovered from their respective injuries. The management also backed Jitesh Sharma over Sanju Samson as the wicket-keeper batter.
Read More: Hardik Pandya indispensable for India in T20 World Cup 2026
Talking point: Hardik Pandya’s whirlwind innings – clear differentiator
Hardik Pandya was the clear difference-maker in the entire game with the bat. On the same surface where he notched up an unbeaten 59 runs in 28 balls, the rest of the home batter could add just 103 runs in 92 balls at the strike rate of 111.95. His power and control over all the big shots was commendable. Ultimately, his quickfire innings helped India to 175.
Hardik Pandya’s counter-attacking knock takes India to 175/6
The hosts didn’t get a great start, losing Shubman Gill and skipper Suryakumar Yadav inside the first three overs. Abhishek Sharma also couldn’t stay long at the crease.
Axar Patel and Tilak Verma recovered the innings with a few boundaries and good rotation of strike in the middle overs. However, some fireworks were necessary to close out on a good total. And, Hardik was the outlet they needed.
He didn’t waste any time before launching two successive sixes against Keshav Maharaj, before unleashing his beast mode against the pacers. He brought up his sixth T20I fifty in just 25 balls to finish with an unbeaten 59 runs in 28 balls, thanks to six boundaries and four sixes. Riding on Hardik’s heroics, India managed 71 runs in their last six overs to reach 175/6 in their allotted 20 overs.
Read More: Suryakumar Yadav has been decent with the bat in SMAT 2025-26, but India need him to contribute more
India’s ruthless bowling bundle out SA for 74; clinch 101-run win & go 1-0 up
The Proteas had a similar start in the chase. Arshdeep Singh found the outside edge of Quinton de Kock into the hands of the slip fielder. Tristan Stubbs gloved the left-arm pacer to the wicket-keeper. Markram and Dewald Brevis played some sensational shots, but Axar had the last laugh by disturbing the stumps of the former.
Hardik continued his golden evening with the wicket of David Miller. Suddenly, the visitors were struggling at 50/5 in eight overs with the required run-rate mounting the pressure on them.
Ultimately, Jasprit Bumrah returned to land the final knock-out blow with the wicket of Brevis as South Africa were bundled out for 74. India earned a massive 101-run win to go 1-0 up in the series.
Read More: South Africa series last chance for India to figure out their combination ahead of T20 WC 2026
Statistical highlights from IND vs SA 1st T20I, Cuttack
- Abhishek Sharma becomes the third leading T20I run-getter (773) among Test-playing nations in 2025. Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett leads the chart with 936 runs.
- Tilak Verma crosses 1000 runs in T20I cricket.
- Suryakumar Yadav has scored 426 runs in 25 T20I innings since July 2024. His batting average of 19.36 is the third-worst in this period, for captains of Test-playing nations in T20Is. (Min 10 matches played)
- Arshdeep Singh dismisses Quinton de Kock for the fourth time in T20Is. The southpaw has 19 runs in 21 balls against the left-arm pacer.
- Hardik Pandya (100) becomes the fourth India player after Rohit Sharma (205), Suryakumar Yadav (155), and Virat Kohli (124) to cross 100 sixes in T20Is.
- Arshdeep Singh equals Bhuvneshwar Kumar to collect the joint-most powerplay wickets (47) for India in T20Is.
- Jasprit Bumrah becomes second India player after Arshdeep Singh to complete 100 wickets in T20Is.
- South Africa slumped to their lowest all out total (74) in T20I cricket.
What’s to come
With India taking a 1-0 lead, South Africa will hope to square it in the second clash. The second fixture will take place on December 11 at the Maharaj Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur in New Chandigarh.
Top Twitter Reactions from IND vs SA, 1st T20I, Cuttack
Hardik Pandya is India's MVP, an asli impact player. With him in team India play with 12 players – good pacer, great finisher. How much india missed him.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 9, 2025
Absolute Beast Mode on !! Come back King, Banger, Clutch – Call it whatever – Hardik Pandya is just a phenomenal cricketer. Stepping out to 149 kph for fun !! #IndvSA @hardikpandya7 🔥
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) December 9, 2025
SA’s capitulation was swift and abject. In this format, the Indian team is sharp, with players of diverse skille and extremely strong on winning intent
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 9, 2025
Such a vital cog in India’s line up. So good to see @hardikpandya7 back, set up a thumping win on a tricky pitch. Well played 👏 #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/Lsd6h1xLSm
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 9, 2025
Read More: Gill included for T20Is against SA, but shouldn’t India have better preserved him for Tests & ODIs?
