At the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, Team India delivered a masterclass in T20 cricket — demolishing South Africa by 101 runs in the first match of the five-T20I series on December 9, 2025.
India first posted a strong total of 175/6 in 20 overs, thanks to a blazing knock by all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Pandya smashed a powerful 59 runs off just 28 balls, setting the tone aggressively and giving India the momentum they needed.
In response, South Africa’s innings collapsed in dramatic fashion. The Proteas were bundled out for 74 runs in just 12.3 overs, marking their lowest-ever total in T20 Internationals.
A standout performance with the ball from India’s bowlers sealed the match. Jasprit Bumrah, the death-overs specialist, picked up a key wicket and in doing so crossed a historic milestone — becoming the first Indian to take 100+ international wickets in all three formats. Along with him, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel shared the bulk of wickets, dismantling the South African batting line-up.
South Africa’s batting unit never really recovered — the top and middle order fell cheaply, and the required rate climbed rapidly. India’s fielding and pressure bowling did not give the visitors any chance to settle. What started as a tricky batting surface turned into an absolute collapse under consistent Indian pressure.
With this emphatic win, India takes a 1–0 lead in the five-match series, setting the tone for the games ahead. The dominance in both departments — batting and bowling — underlines India’s readiness ahead of bigger challenges.
For South Africa, this performance will serve as a wake-up call — they’ll need to regroup quickly if they hope to fight back in the remaining matches. Meanwhile, Indian fans will be savouring this dominant start — powered by a destructive batting display and ruthless bowling execution.
