IND vs SA

And with that, we draw the curtains down on our coverage of this opening T20I. The teams now fly to New Chandigarh for the 2nd T20I which will commence at 7 PM IST on Thursday, December 11. Make sure you return for our coverage of it all right here on Sportskeeda, while keeping yourselves updated with all the other cricketing news and action from around the world on this very platform. For the moment, this is the duo of Bidipto Datta and Sooryanarayanan Sesha taking your leave. Thank you so much for tuning in as we hope you enjoyed our coverage. Take care and good night!

Hardik Pandya could not have written a better comeback script. Back from injury, he will look to keep making his impact for India look a far different team in his presence. Mightier than they've already been anyway, as they continue to find ways to win from positions of strife and enhance their reputation as the team to beat ahead of the T20 World Cup. South Africa have had a shocker, but they need to pull their weight together and take the positives from a bowling standpoint before the next game in a couple of days' time.

Hardik Pandya is unsurprisingly the Player of the Match. Here's what he has to say: I had to back my shots. At the same point of time I realized that the wicket had a bit of spice. You had to be a little gutsy. It was more about timing the ball and not trying to break the ball. I was very satisfied the way I was batting. (How fit is he?) The last 6-7 months have been amazing from a fitness standpoint. I don't make a big deal about the hard work that goes in behind the scenes but at the same time, the last 50 days, being away from your loved ones and spending time at the NCA, it feels satisfying when the result comes like this. (Where does he like to bowl?) As a cricketer I don't think I have ever been fussy about what role I have. I have always been motivated that it does not matter what Hardik Pandya wants, it matters what India wants. Some days are good, some days are not but it's the mindset that helps me. I've always tried to put my team first - that's my biggest USP and that has always helped me. (On attacking Maharaj early) I kind of knew that he wouldn't be going close to Axar. I didn't plan that - it was just that if it comes in my arc, I would go for it. I think mine was more calculated and it paid off. It got us some momentum and we were 20-25 runs ahead of the game when those overs started. It's about gamesmanship - you identify those bowlers and take them down.

Suryakumar Yadav (India captain): I told at the toss that we were 50-50 but very happy to bat first. 48/3 and then getting 175, the way Hardik, Axar and Tilak batted and then Jitesh coming in and chipping in, playing his role - first we thought we'll get to 160, but 175 was unbelievable. There will be days when 2-3 batters won't have their day but the others will cover it up. They didn't today but you will see it in the coming days. We want everyone to be fearless and enjoy their batting. I think Arshdeep and Bumrah were the perfect bowlers to start (in the powerplay). Hardik coming back from injury, it was important to take care of him as well and he bowled brilliantly. Batting first, 48/3 and then scoring about 90-91 runs from 7-15 and then 45 runs in the last four was commendable. The way we bowled and the amount of options we had, 175 was a great effort.

Aiden Markram (South Africa captain): "There were some good signs with the ball and in the field. We wanted to start well and did it. So that's a box ticked. But, the batting leaves a lot to be desired! There was something in it for everyone, certainly for the bowlers. 175 was a decent total. But, we should have batted much, much better. We didn't build partnerships. But, we have a draw a line through and stick to the positives." 

'If de Villiers & Co. haven't been able to do it before you, you're not going to do it tonight my friend' - some honest words from Dale Steyn on Dewald Brevis trying to whack Jasprit Bumrah out of the attack.

Arshdeep Singh (2/14 in 2 overs): "Thought process is simple - go there and make use of the help available off the wicket. If you hit the seam hard, something was happening. I bowled full, got a wicket. Then, bowled full and got hit for four. Then bowled short and got another wicket! So, learnt things on the go! I went up to Jassi bhai (Jasprit Bumrah) and said, "Welcome to the club!" I am just trying to enjoy the present and have fun. It's rare that you get the chance of playing on these wickets but the idea was to stay disciplined." 

10:07 PM local time and IST: India beat South Africa by 101 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series!

Hardik Pandya 59* (28) | Arshdeep Singh 2/14 (2)
Dewald Brevis 22 (14) | Lungisani Ngidi 3/31 (4)

The Cuttack jinx has been broken! And in some style by India, for they have comprehensively drubbed South Africa in this second innings. A score of 175 - achieved thanks to a breathtaking Hardik Pandya onslaught - seemed competitive, even if not imposing against the might of South Africa's batting lineup. But this Indian bowling unit is one that brims with pedigree and skill. And a relentless ability to keep attacking for wickets.

All of this was on display from the very first over. Arshdeep Singh got the ball to swing and had Quinton de Kock nicking off to second slip. Tristan Stubbs, batting at 3, unleashed a couple of glorious boundaries but got an inside edge onto his arm before Jitesh Sharma took the first of four catches to come his way, even as the decision had to be overturned via a successful DRS. Dewald Brevis was fed spin early on and skipper Aiden Markram unleashed an outrageous cart over mid-wicket off Jasprit Bumrah no less. But once Axar Patel came into the attack to castle Markram, the cookie well and truly crumbled.

From 40/2, it was a procession. David Miller fell to Pandya, who struck first ball, while Donovan Ferreira was undone by the extra bounce that Chakaravarthy generated. There wasn't a great deal of turn as such for the spinners but they were relentless with their lengths, while the seamers duly did the same. South Africa lost wickets at the rate of knots and without a lot of depth, it was all down to Brevis to pull off a Houdini act.

That was never on the cards once Bumrah returned and got him to hoick one up for his 100th T20I wicket, although it did seem pretty contentious as far as the landing of the front foot was concerned. Brevis didn't hang around though and well, the rest soon followed him as South Africa lost their last eight wickets for just 34 runs, capping off a nightmare outing with the bat as they registered their lowest ever score in T20Is! Certainly a performance to forget - not for India though, for they were right on the money from start to finish with the ball with each of their bowlers chipping in with the wickets. A team effort if there ever was one - stay tuned for the presentation...

A weird dismissal as a heave ends in the hands of the slip fielder. But it aptly sums up South Africa's miserable outing with the bat. India wrap up a resounding 101-run win!

12.3 Shivam Dube to Lutho Sipamla, EDGED AND TAKEN! SOUTH AFRICA ARE BUNDLED OUT FOR THEIR LOWEST T20 SCORE. SHIVAM DUBE GETS THE FINAL WICKET. Into the pitch on off-stump. Sipamla tried to muscle that over wide mid-on but ended up getting the toe-end of the bat on it. The ball carried to slip and the fielder was good enough to keep his eyes on the ball, lean forward and complete the catch! 

SportsGuruGK: "This Indian Team is simply the best & ready to conquer once again in T20 World Cup"
This sure has been a statement performance with the ball from the Men in Blue!