Hardik Pandya produced a commanding all-round display to lead India to a resounding 101-run victory over South Africa in the first T20I at the Barabati Stadium on Tuesday. His blistering half-century, crafted under testing conditions, initially prompted debate over whether the all-rounder had overcome difficult batting terrain or capitalised on improving ones. By the end of the night, however, South Africa’s dramatic collapse provided clarity, as the visitors crumbled for their lowest-ever total in the format, dismissed in just 12.3 overs.
India’s innings had wavered early, with Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi seizing momentum on a pace-friendly red-soil wicket. Shubman Gill and skipper Suryakumar Yadav fell cheaply, leaving Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Verma to cautiously rebuild. The atmosphere briefly shifted when Tilak launched a slower delivery from Anrich Nortje high over deep square leg, the ball disappearing past the stadium roof. Yet Jansen halted the resurgence, sprinting back to take a superb catch near the ropes and dismiss Tilak just as India appeared to stabilise.
Amid dropping temperatures and rising pressure, India turned to Hardik Pandya — and he delivered. He clattered two sixes off Keshav Maharaj to revive the scoring rate, then paired with Jitesh Sharma to hammer 18 runs off the penultimate over. His 100th T20I six carried him to a 25-ball half-century, a spirited knock that pushed India to a competitive 176.
South Africa’s chase unraveled almost instantly. Arshdeep Singh set the tone, swinging the new ball to remove Quinton de Kock with an outside edge brilliantly held by Abhishek Sharma at second slip. Arshdeep struck again when Tristan Stubbs inside-edged a wobble-seam delivery, with wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma completing a low catch confirmed via review.
Spin compounded South Africa’s misery. Axar Patel rattled Aiden Markram’s leg stump, igniting the crowd, before David Miller and Donovan Ferreira departed in quick succession. The procession continued as Varun Chakaravarthy slipped a googly through Marco Jansen, while Jasprit Bumrah delivered the knockout blows, removing Dewald Brevis and Keshav Maharaj — the latter marking Bumrah’s 100th T20I wicket.
With the lower order swept away, India wrapped up a commanding win, driven by Hardik’s decisive counterattack and a ruthless bowling performance. The result not only showcased India’s depth but also reaffirmed Hardik’s flair for thriving when the pressure peaks.
