IND Vs SA, 1st T20I: All-Round Hardik Pandya Powers India's Landslide Win - In Pics
Hardik Pandya smashed a sparkling unbeaten 28-ball 59 as India defeated South Africa by a massive 101 runs in the first T20I in Cuttack on Tuesday (December 9, 2025). Returning to international cricket after recovering from quadricep injury, Pandya smashed six fours and four maximums to lift to 175 for six. Tilak Varma (26) and Axar Patel (23) also chipped in with useful contributions after SA asked India to take first strike. In reply, SA folded for 74 in 12.3 overs with Dewald Brevis (22) emerging as the top-scorer. It was SA's lowest-ever score in T20I cricket. For India, Arshdeep Singh (2/14), Varun Chakaravarthy (2/19), Jasprit Bumrah (2/17), Axar Patel (2/7), Shivam Dube (1/1) and Pandya (1/16) were among wickets.
India's Shubman Gill plays a shot during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack, India. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
South Africa's Lungi Ngidi, right, celebrates with teammate the wicket of India's captain Suryakumar Yadav during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack, India. Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
India's captain Suryakumar Yadav plays a shot during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack, India. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
India's Tilak Varma plays a shot during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack, India Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
South Africa's Kwena Maphaka, ties the shoe laces of India's Hardik Pandya during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack, India. Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
India's Hardik Pandya plays a shot during the first T20I cricket match between India and South Africa at Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak
India's Axar Patel plays a shot during the first T20I cricket match between India and South Africa at Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak)
India's Shivam Dube plays a shot during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack, India. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
India's fans cheer on their team during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack, India | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
India's Axar Patel plays a shot during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
South Africa's Dewal Brevis drops a catch during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
India's Hardik Pandya celebrates his fifty runs during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
India's Arshdeep Singh, centre, celebrates with teammates the wicket of South Africa's Quinton de Kock during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
South Africa's Tristan Stubbs plays a shot during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
India's Arshdeep Singh, centre, appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of South Africa's Tristan Stubbs during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
South Africa's Dewal Brevis plays a shot during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
India's Axar Patel, centre, celebrates the wicket of South Africa's captain Aiden Markram during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
India's Hardik Pandya, centre, celebrates with teammates the wicket of South Africa's David Miller during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
South Africa's Marco Jansen bowled out by India's Varun Chakaravarthy during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
India's Varun Chakaravarthy, left, and India's captain Suryakumar Yadav celebrate the wicket of South Africa's Marco Jansen, right, during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
India's Jasprit Bumrah celebrates with India's Shubman Gill the wicket of South Africa's Keshav Maharaj during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
South Africa's Anrich Nortje bowled out by India's Axar Patel during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
India's Shivam Dube, right, congratulates India's captain Suryakumar Yadav after winning the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool
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