IND Vs SA: India Destroy South Africa By 101 Runs In 1st T20I At Cuttack

India were back to their old habit of losing the toss, but they didn't let fate dictate terms on Tuesday, and the result: a demolition job to thrash South Africa in the first T20I match in Cuttack by a whopping 101 runs.

This South Africa's tour of India has been a tale of two cities. While South thrashed India in the red-ball series handing India their heaviest Test defeat by 408 runs in Guwahati, India on the other hand, have been completely dominating in the white-ball leg dismissing South Africa for their lowest T20 total of 74 in the 1st T20I which is followed by 2-1 win in the ODI series.

Asked to set a target, India posted 175/6 in 20 overs thanks to Hardik Pandya's onslaught. The star all-rounder, back in international cricket after a lengthy recuperation period, also became the fourth Indian to hit 100 sixes.

But worryingly for the team, skipper Suryakumar Yadav and returning Shubman Gill, who's reportedly being groomed as the all-format captain, lasted a combined 13 balls in the midst of a mid-innings wobble, only to be bailed out by Pandya. Tilak Varma and Axar Patel contributed with 20s.

For the Proteas, pacers Lungi Ngidi and Lutho Sipamla claimed three and two wickets, respectively. Interestingly, they gave spinner Keshav Maharaj only a couple of overs, and he went wicketless for 25 runs.

The defence witnessed India's bowling attack operating like clockwork even as dew set in in the eastern part of the country. Yadav utilised six bowlers, and each one returned with at least a wicket.

Arshdeep Singh provided the early breakthrough, then Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel, and Pandya throttled the power-packed South African middle order. Not to be missed out, Shivam Dube claimed the final wicket, that of Sipamla, in the 13th over for an early finish.

While Pandya struck with his first delivery to announce a sensational comeback from injury layoff, Bumrah became only the fifth bowler to complete a century of wickets in all three formats of the game.

Arshdeep Singh provided the early breakthroughs, then Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with wickets at regular intervals to bundle South Africa for their historic lowest score of 74 - marking a complete bowling performance.

The two teams will now head to Chandigarh for the second match of the five-match series with India leading 1-0. The visitors won the Test series, 2-0 -- a historic series sweep in India, but the hosts claimed the three-match ODIs 2-1 with Virat Kohli hitting two centuries and a fifty.

IND Vs SA, 1st T20I: Toss Updates

South Africa have won the toss and elected to bowl first in the 1st T20I.

IND Vs SA, 1st T20I: Playing XIs

South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram(c), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje

India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh

Also Read - IND vs SA 1st T20I: How Hardik Pandya's Return Is Going To Benefit Men In Blue?

IND Vs SA, 1st T20I: Live Streaming

The match will be telecasted on the Star Sports Network, while you can also stream the match live on Jio Hotstar app. The match will begin from 7:00 PM on both the platforms.

Also Read - IND vs SA, 1st T20I: Cuttack Weather Report, Barabati Stadium Pitch Report