Hardik Pandya Shines in Comeback as India Claims Victory in T20 2025 Series Opener Against South Africa
The Indian cricket team achieved a remarkable victory against South Africa in the first match of the T20I series. Held at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, India triumphed by 101 runs, powered by Hardik Pandya’s explosive performance.
Hardik Pandya’s Stellar Comeback
Hardik Pandya returned to the squad following an injury layoff, scoring an unbeaten 59 off just 28 balls. His innings included six fours and four sixes, revitalizing India’s total to 175 runs for 6 wickets in their 20 overs.
Match Overview
- Date: 2025 T20I Series Opener
- Venue: Barabati Stadium, Cuttack
- India’s Score: 175/6 in 20 overs
- South Africa’s Score: 74 all out in 12.3 overs
- Margin: India won by 101 runs
India’s Innings
Batting first, India had a rocky start, losing two wickets within the first three overs. Shubman Gill hit a boundary but was dismissed quickly, and Suryakumar Yadav scored a mere 12 runs before falling to Lungi Ngidi, who took 3 wickets for 31 runs.
Abhishek Sharma contributed 17 runs, and Tilak Varma managed 26 runs, but both were unable to secure the innings. Axar Patel and Shivam Dube added useful runs, yet it was Pandya’s aggressive batting that turned the game around.
South Africa’s Collapse
In response, South Africa struggled from the outset, losing Quinton de Kock for a duck in the first over. The team continued to falter, with key batsmen like David Miller and Aiden Markram dismissed by India’s bowlers.
- Top South African Scores:
- Dewald Brevis: 22 runs
- Aiden Markram: 9 runs
Bowling Highlights
India’s bowling attack was relentless, with all six bowlers sharing the wickets. Jasprit Bumrah took 2 wickets for 17 runs, while Axar Patel had remarkable figures of 2 for just 7 runs.
Upcoming Fixture
The next match of the T20 series will take place at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. The encounter promises to be an exciting rematch between the two finalists of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
