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.

Updated on: 9 December 2025 10:36 pm

IND vs RSA 1st T20 Cricket-Suryakumar Yadav

India's captain Suryakumar Yadav, right, with teammates celebrates after winning the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack. | Photo: AP/Rafiq Maqbool

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South Africa vs India 1st T20I at Cuttack Shubman Gill

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

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IND vs SA 1st T20I at Cuttack Lungi Ngidi

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

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SA vs IND 1st T20I at Cuttack Suryakumar Yadav

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

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India vs South Africa 1st T20I Tilak Varma

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

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South Africa vs India 1st T20I Hardik Pandya

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

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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

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India South Africa 1st T20I at Cuttack Axar Patel

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)

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India South Africa 1st T20I at Cuttack Shivam Dube

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

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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

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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

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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

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IND vs RSA 1st T20 Cricket-Hardik Pandya

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

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IND vs RSA 1st T20 Cricket-Arshdeep Singh

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

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IND vs RSA 1st T20 Cricket-Tristan Stubbs

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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IND vs RSA 1st T20 Cricket-Varun Chakaravarthy

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

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IND vs RSA 1st T20 Cricket- Jasprit Bumrah

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

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IND vs RSA 1st T20 Cricket-Anrich Nortje

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

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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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