Ind vs SA 1st T20 : Cuttack Carnage: India Skittle South Africa for 74
At the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, India launched their T20 series against South Africa in emphatic fashion — posting a challenging 175/6 and then dismantling the Proteas for a paltry 74 to win by a massive 101 runs. The triumph was built on a stellar all-round performance from Hardik Pandya and a ruthless bowling effort that left South Africa’s batters shell-shocked.
India vs South Africa - 1st T20I • Cuttack
South Africa tour of India, 2025 • 09 December 2025
Match Summary
India’s innings owed much to Hardik Pandya, whose 59 * off just 28 balls transformed a middle-of-the-road start into a competitive 175. Despite early losses, Pandya’s aggression in the death overs — smashing sixes and boundaries — lifted the total to a formidable level. In response, India’s bowlers executed with precision and consistency, never letting South Africa build any momentum. Wickets fell at regular intervals, and the Proteas crumbled under pressure, folding for 74 inside 13 overs — their lowest T20I total against India.
First Innings — India’s Batting (175/6)
India’s start was modest, losing a few early wickets and struggling for momentum. But Pandya steadyed the ship when the innings threatened to stall, smashing his half-century in just 25 balls, with aggressive shots and unrelenting intent. His late-overs acceleration — including a flurry of boundaries and sixes — jolted India’s scorecard into respectability. What looked like a competitive but defendable total soon became ominous for the visitors, as India ended with 175/6 in 20 overs.
Second Innings — South Africa’s Collapse (74 all out)
Chasing 176, South Africa never settled. Early breakthroughs from the Indian bowlers unsettled the top order. Wickets tumbled quickly — by the end of the power-play and within 10 overs, SA were already deep in trouble. The pressure never let up. Tight lines, disciplined fielding and sustained aggression resulted in a total collapse: all out for 74 in just 12.3 overs. The tally marked one of South Africa’s worst ever T20I innings, and India sealed a dominant 101-run win.
Top Performers
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya made a sensational comeback in the 1st T20I at the Barabati Stadium, delivering a match-winning all-round performance that underscored his value to the side. Coming in when India were in trouble at 78/4, Pandya blasted an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls — replete with six fours and four sixes — to push India to a formidable 175/6 on a tricky, slow red-soil surface that had middled unevenly.
Beyond rescue with the bat, Pandya also rolled his arm over and delivered when it counted — claiming a key wicket (that of David Miller) with his very first delivery, underlining his utility as a genuine all-rounder.
In effect, his explosive knock — coming at a strike rate over 200 — transformed what looked like a middle-class total into a daunting challenge. His late-innings assault, especially during the last six overs, swung momentum decisively in India’s favour and laid the platform for a dominant 101-run win, as South Africa folded for just 74.
What This Win Means
This massive win sets the tone for the rest of the T20I series — India not only regained momentum after earlier results but also demonstrated their dominance in home conditions. The emphatic margin sends a strong message: India’s batting depth and bowling firepower are more than capable of dismantling top-class opponents. For South Africa, it’s a warning — failure to regroup quickly could turn the rest of the series into a rout.
