Overview:
The right-handed batter hit six boundaries and four sixes in his knock, taking the total to 175/6 in the allotted 20 overs.
Hardik Pandya, who returned to the Playing XI, was at his best in the first T20I between India and South Africa. The hosts were in trouble of getting bowled out for an under-par score, but Hardik’s 59 runs off 28 balls kept India in the game.
The right-handed batter hit six boundaries and four sixes in his knock, taking the total to 175/6 in the allotted 20 overs. He was missing from the action since the last league match of the Asia Cup 2025 against Sri Lanka due to an injury. He didn’t play in Australia, and the ODI series against South Africa, and his absence was felt by the team.
The remaining batters scored to time the ball due to the slowness of the pitch in Cuttack. India had a terrible start with Shubman Gill (4) and Suryakumar Yadav (12) failing to get going.
Tilak Varma amassed 26, but he faced 32 balls. He hit 2 fours and 1 six, with his runs coming at a strike rate of 81.25. All-rounder Axar Patel accumulated 23 runs off 21 balls, managing just 1 six. Shivam Dube, who is renowned for his big hits against the spinners, was bowled by Donovan Ferreira on a score of 11 runs.
For South Africa, Lungi Ngidi took three wickets while Lutho Sipamla added two scalps to his bowling figures.