IND vs SA Pandya powers India to 101-run rout, SA bowled out for lowest T20I score ever

India opened their T20 World Cup 2026 preparations with a resounding 101-run triumph successful the archetypal T20I against South Africa astatine the Barabati Stadium, powered by Hardik Pandya’s beardown all-round show and a disciplined bowling performance.

The triumph puts India 1-0 up successful the five-match series. Chasing 176, South Africa’s innings fell isolated astir immediately. Arshdeep Singh struck with his 2nd delivery, removing Quinton de Kock for a duck. He followed it up by dismissing Tristan Stubbs successful the 3rd over, halting the batter’s aboriginal aggression. Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis attempted to rebuild, but Axar Patel’s instauration wrong the powerplay brought an instant breakthrough arsenic the South African skipper was bowled for 14.

Hardik Pandya, returning to the nationalist broadside aft injury, made an interaction with the shot arsenic well. His precise archetypal transportation removed David Miller, deepening South Africa’s increasing problems. The illness gathered pace, with lone Marco Jansen offering a little counterattack done a brace of sixes earlier Varun Chakaravarthy ended his stay. Jasprit Bumrah past reached a idiosyncratic milestone, claiming his 100th T20I wicket by dismissing Brevis, and added Keshav Maharaj moments later.

Axar Patel accounted for Anrich Nortje soon after, and Shivam Dube completed the rout by removing Lutho Sipamla, arsenic South Africa folded for conscionable 74 successful 12.3 overs, their lowest full successful T20I history. Earlier successful the evening, India endured a shaky start. Lungi Ngidi removed Shubman Gill successful the archetypal implicit and returned to disregard

Suryakumar Yadav

, who concisely counterpunched with a six and a four, including his trademark supla shot. Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma steadied the innings to usher India to 40/2 aft six overs, but Abhishek’s dismissal to Sipamla stalled the momentum again. Tilak and Axar Patel tried to physique done the mediate overs but struggled for rhythm. Tilak’s scratchy 26 disconnected 32 yet came to an end, leaving India searching for acceleration. That work fell to Hardik Pandya, who played an innings of uncommon fluency connected a transportation that gripped and slowed passim the night. His unbeaten 59 disconnected 28 balls, decorated with six fours and 4 sixes, lifted India to a competitory 175/6.

Late contributions from Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma added invaluable runs. Despite South Africa’s aboriginal breakthroughs and Jansen’s choky spells, Pandya stood retired with timing and powerfulness that fewer others managed connected the surface. His sound transformed India’s innings and yet shaped the people of the match. With India carrying a 1-0 advantage, the teams present question to New Chandigarh for the 2nd T20I connected Thursday astatine the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Brief Scores: India 175/6 successful 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 59*, Tilak Varma 26; Lungi Ngidi 3/31, Lutho Sipamla 2/38) South Africa 74 each retired successful 12.3 overs (Dewald Brevis 22, Tristan Stubbs 14; Axar Patel 2/7, Arshdeep Singh 2/14) India won by 101 runs.