🖊️ Author: आक़ाश मीणा
🏢 Source: Esportsclick News Sports Desk
IND vs SA 1st T20I 2025 – India Crush South Africa by 101 Runs | Full Match Report & Scorecard
Match Summary
India produced a dominant all-round performance in the first T20I at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, defeating South Africa by 101 runs. Hardik Pandya’s explosive 59 off 28* rescued India from early trouble and later India’s bowlers bundled South Africa out for 74 in 12.3 overs.
Pre-Match Context
India entered the opening T20I looking to establish control in the five-match series, while South Africa hoped to test young players and begin strongly.
The pitch in Cuttack offered variable bounce early, creating challenges for both batting units.
India Innings – Hardik Pandya Leads a Powerful Recovery
Early Pressure on India
India struggled early during the powerplay:
Shubman Gill fell for 4
Abhishek Sharma scored 17 but couldn’t extend his start
Captain Suryakumar Yadav added 12
At 48/3, the hosts were under real pressure.
Hardik Pandya’s Match-Changing Knock
Hardik Pandya’s Match-Changing Knock
Hardik Pandya walked in during a tense situation and completely shifted momentum.
Key numbers:
59 off 28 balls*
6 fours, 4 sixes
A strike-rate above 200
Responsible for taking India from a struggling position to a winning total
His counter-attack came exactly when India needed stability + aggression
Support From Middle Order
Tilak Varma – 26 (32): Held the innings together, rotated strike.
Axar Patel – 23 (21): Played a smart cameo.
Shivam Dube – 11 (9): Added quick runs.
Jitesh Sharma – 10 (5)*: Finished strongly.
Extras contributed 13 runs, boosting the final total.
Final India Total
India – 175/6 (20 Overs)
A competitive score on a pitch with uneven bounce and grip in the middle overs.
South Africa’s Collapse – Bowled Out for 74
Early Wickets Trigger Panic
South Africa never settled in the chase.
Key dismissals:
Quinton de Kock – 0
Tristan Stubbs – 14
Aiden Markram – 14
Dewald Brevis – 22 (only batter who looked comfortable)
At no stage did they build a partnership.
Indian Bowling Dominates Completely
Jasprit Bumrah – 2/17 (3 overs)
World-class accuracy
Broke SA’s small resistance
Arshdeep Singh – 2/14 (2 overs)
Two early wickets in the powerplay
Varun Chakravarthy – 2/19 (3 overs)
Spin strangled SA’s middle order
Axar Patel – 2/7 (2 overs)
Cheap wickets, brilliant control
Hardik Pandya – 1/16 (2 overs)
Removed David Miller, a key wicket
Shivam Dube – 1 wicket
Finished the innings
Final South Africa Total
South Africa – 74 All Out (12.3 Overs)
One of their lowest totals against India in T20 cricket.
Key Turning Points
Hardik’s Counter-Attack
The moment he accelerated, the match’s momentum flipped.
Wickets in Clusters
South Africa never stabilized; India struck every 1–2 overs.
Tactical Breakdown
What Worked for India
Depth in bowling
Smart field placements
Hardik’s leadership
Middle-order partnerships
What Failed for South Africa
No game plan for spin
Poor shot selection
Zero partnerships
Inability to handle pressure early
Player of the Match
Hardik Pandya – 59 (28) + 1/16*
A complete all-round impact performance.
What This Result Means
India go 1–0 up in the series with high confidence.
South Africa must reassess approach, execution and batting order.
FAQs
Who won the 1st T20I?
India won by 101 runs.
Who was Player of the Match?
Hardik Pandya.
Where was the match played?
Barabati Stadium, Cuttack.
South Africa’s total?
74 all out in 12.3 overs.
Disclaimer
All match figures and events are based on officially published scorecards and publicly available match reports. No copyrighted or restricted data is used