Pandya, Bowlers Power India to Crushing 101-Run Win Over South Africa Discover how the Indian bowlers dismissed the Proteas for their lowest T20I total.

India Batting: 175/6 (20 Overs)

South Africa Batting: 74 All Out (12.3 Overs)

Pandya, Bowlers Power India to Crushing 101-Run Win Over South Africa

By Sportzons.com Desk Cuttack, December 9, 2025

In a display of sheer dominance that left the Barabati Stadium crowd roaring, Team India kicked off the 5-match T20I series against South Africa with a massive 101-run victory on Tuesday. On a night that promised a close contest between two heavyweights of the format, the Men in Blue turned the game into a one-sided spectacle, defending a competitive total of 175 by skittling the Proteas for a paltry 74—their lowest-ever total in T20 Internationals.

While the margin of victory suggests ease, the match began with plenty of nerves. It was the brilliance of Hardik Pandya with the bat and a collective masterclass by the Indian bowling unit that scripted this memorable win.

Hardik Rescues India from Early Jitters

South African captain Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that seemed vindicated immediately. The Indian top order, usually a fortress of runs, crumbled under the lights in Cuttack.

Making his return to the side, Shubman Gill endured a nightmare start, gifting his wicket to Lungi Ngidi in the very first over for just 4. The aggression of Abhishek Sharma (6) was cut short early, and when skipper Suryakumar Yadav (12) failed to convert his start, India found themselves reeling at 45/3 inside the powerplay. The surface offered spongy bounce, and the South African pacers, led by Ngidi (3/31), exploited it perfectly.

Tilak Varma played a steady hand of 26 off 32 balls to arrest the slide, but the innings lacked momentum. Enter Hardik Pandya.

Walking in with India in a precarious position, the all-rounder played a knock that defined the match. Pandya paced his innings beautifully, initially rotating the strike before unleashing havoc in the death overs. He smashed a blistering unbeaten 59 off just 28 balls, studded with four towering sixes and six boundaries. His late assault propelled India from a sluggish 120-odd to a fighting 175/6, shifting the psychological advantage back to the hosts at the break.

The Proteas Collapse: A Procession of Wickets

Chasing 176 on a tricky surface required a steady start, but the South African response was a disaster from the get-go. Arshdeep Singh, continuing his rich vein of form, struck immediately to remove Quinton de Kock, setting the tone for the innings.

The introduction of Jasprit Bumrah and the spin twins—Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel—turned the chase into a procession. The South African batters appeared at sea against the moving ball and the guile of the Indian spinners.

The highlight of the bowling effort came from the leader of the pack, Jasprit Bumrah. In a moment of history, Bumrah dismissed the dangerous Dewald Brevis (22) with a sharp bouncer that hurried the batter into a false shot. This wicket marked Bumrah’s 100th T20I wicket, making him the first Indian pacer to achieve the milestone in this format.

Spinners Tighten the Noose

While the pacers provided the breakthroughs, it was the spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel who suffocated the middle order. Varun, with his mystery spin, was unplayable, picking up 2 wickets for just 19 runs. He castled Marco Jansen with a delivery that jagged back sharply, leaving the batter bewildered. Axar Patel was equally frugal, claiming 2 wickets for a mere 7 runs, ensuring there was no recovery for the visitors.

South Africa never recovered from the early blows. From 40/4, they slumped to 68/8, with no batter other than Brevis offering any resistance. The innings folded in just 12.3 overs with a final score of 74, handing India one of their biggest wins in terms of runs.

A Statement Series Opener

This victory is a significant statement from Suryakumar Yadav’s men. Defending a sub-200 total with wet ball conditions usually poses a challenge, but the Indian bowling unit showed incredible discipline and bite.

“We knew 175 was a good score if we bowled in the right areas. Hardik’s finish gave us the momentum, and the bowlers executed the plans perfectly,” a delighted Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match presentation.

For South Africa, it is back to the drawing board. Their batting lineup, which boasts some of the most destructive hitters in the world, looked completely out of sync against the Indian attack.

As the teams move to the next venue, India takes a crucial 1-0 lead in the series. If this performance is anything to go by, fans are in for a thrilling, albeit Ind-dominated, series.

Brief Scores:

• India: 175/6 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 59*, Tilak Varma 26; Lungi Ngidi 3/31).

• South Africa: 74 all out in 12.3 overs (Dewald Brevis 22; Axar Patel 2/7, Arshdeep Singh 2/14, Jasprit Bumrah 2/17).

• Result: India won by 101 runs.

• Player of the Match: Hardik Pandya