The five-match T20I series between India and South Africa started with a blockbuster at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on 9 December 2025. India produced a complete performance with both bat and ball, crushing South Africa by 101 runs. It was a night where Hardik Pandya played one of the best T20I knocks of his career, and Jasprit Bumrah created history by becoming the first Indian bowler to take 100 wickets in all three international formats.
This match perfectly reflected India’s depth, discipline, planning, and mental strength. South Africa, on the other hand, were completely outplayed and will have a lot to think about before the second T20I.
Toss & Match Conditions
South Africa captain Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bowl first. The pitch had seam movement, sharp bounce, and a little stickiness that made stroke-play difficult. India were ready for a battle, but the start wasn’t ideal.
The ball was nipping around, timing was tough, and South African pacers used the conditions well. But what looked like a worrying first half of the innings soon turned into a match-winning recovery.
India’s Batting – Hardik Pandya Changes the Game
India lost early wickets:
- Shubman Gill – 4
- Suryakumar Yadav – early dismissal
- India at 48/3 – under pressure
The innings needed a spark.
And Hardik Pandya delivered that spark with a firestorm.
Hardik Pandya – 59 off 28 balls (4 sixes, 6 fours)*
Once Hardik walked in, the momentum shifted. On a pitch where other batters struggled to time the ball, Hardik’s balance and power looked effortless. He focused on clean hitting, not slogging, and picked the right bowlers to attack.
His knock had everything — calmness, bravery, planning, and perfect shot selection.
It lifted India from a modest total to a strong one.
Supporting contributions also mattered:
- Tilak Varma – steady middle-order partnership
- Axar Patel – rotated strike smartly
- Jitesh Sharma – late hitting and sharp running
Thanks to Hardik’s brilliance and good support from others, India reached 175/6 in 20 overs, which was well above par on that Cuttack surface.
What Hardik Said After the Match
Hardik opened up about mindset, discipline and fitness:
“The wicket had a bit of spice. I had to trust my shots and focus on timing. These last 50 days at the NCA were tough but very important. I’ve always believed it’s not about what Hardik wants, it’s about what India needs.”
He also explained how he predicted Maharaj’s bowling line and took a calculated chance:
“If the ball came into my arc, I wanted to go for it. It gave us momentum and pushed us 20–25 runs ahead.”
His knock truly turned the match around.
India’s Bowling – Bumrah & Arshdeep Destroy South Africa
If India’s batting comeback was impressive, their bowling performance was absolutely ruthless. The ball seamed, bounced, jagged around — and India’s bowlers used every bit of help from the pitch.
South Africa were never in the chase. They collapsed to 74 all-out in just 12.3 overs, marking one of their worst T20I batting performances.
Jasprit Bumrah – Milestone Night
Bumrah bowled with his trademark control and precision.
He took key wickets, including Maharaj and Nortje, but the moment of the night came with his 100th T20I wicket.
⭐ Bumrah becomes India’s second bowler to take 100 T20I wickets
(after Arshdeep Singh)
But the bigger history was this —
⭐ Jasprit Bumrah is now one of only five bowlers in history
to take 100 wickets in all three formats:
- Lasith Malinga
- Tim Southee
- Shakib Al Hasan
- Shaheen Afridi
- Jasprit Bumrah (India)
This achievement puts Bumrah among the greatest multi-format bowlers the game has ever seen.
Arshdeep Singh’s role
Arshdeep bowled beautifully with the new ball, getting bounce and movement. His short-ball and full-ball variations fetched him wickets.
He explained his approach:
“The plan was simple — hit the seam hard. There was something in the pitch every ball. I kept adjusting quickly.”
He also welcomed Bumrah into the 100-wicket club with a smile.
South Africa’s Batting – A Forgettable Night
South Africa’s top-order collapsed early:
- Quinton de Kock – gone early
- Tristan Stubbs – no impact
- Aiden Markram – beaten by movement
- David Miller – dismissed cheaply
Before they crossed 50, four of their main players were back in the dressing room.
Dewald Brevis stood firm for a while, but with wickets falling at the other end, he couldn’t build any momentum. India’s bowlers barely gave any loose deliveries.
Aiden Markram’s Honest Assessment
Markram admitted it was a tough outing:
“The pitch was sticky and had tennis-ball bounce. 175 was chaseable, but we needed partnerships. We’ll move on quickly and prepare for the next match.”
Important Stats & Records from the Match
South Africa’s lowest T20I totals
- 74 vs India (Cuttack, 2025)
- 87 vs India
- 89 vs Australia
- 95 vs India
- 96 vs Australia
- 98 vs Sri Lanka
Lowest all-out totals against India
- 57 – UAE
- 66 – New Zealand
- 70 – Ireland
- 74 – South Africa (today)
- 80 – England
Most dismissals by an Indian wicketkeeper in a T20I
- 5 – MS Dhoni
- 4 – Dhoni
- 4 – Karthik
- 4 – Jitesh Sharma (today)
Presentation Ceremony – Key Reactions
Suryakumar Yadav (India Captain)
- Happy to bat first
- Praised Hardik, Axar, Tilak and Jitesh
- Credited Arshdeep and Bumrah for using the new ball perfectly
- Said that India’s batting depth allows fearlessness
Hardik Pandya (Player of the Match)
- Called the pitch spicy
- Highlighted fitness work at the NCA
- Explained how he stays team-first
- Said his calculated hitting changed the match momentum
Aiden Markram (SA Captain)
- Said the team bowled well initially
- Accepted batting failure
- Mentioned lack of partnerships
- Focused on bouncing back in the next match
Arshdeep Singh
- Enjoyed the helpful pitch
- Explained his ball-by-ball adjustments
- Congratulated Bumrah warmly
- Loved the bowling partnership flexibility
Match Summary – In Simple Words
India were in trouble at 48/3, but Hardik Pandya played a brilliant innings and pushed India to a strong score of 175.
Then India’s bowlers, especially Bumrah and Arshdeep, tore through South Africa’s batting line-up.
South Africa lasted only 12.3 overs and got bowled out for 74.
It was a one-sided match where India completely outplayed the visitors in every department.
Final Takeaway
- Hardik Pandya changed the entire match with his aggressive yet smart batting.
- Jasprit Bumrah made history with his 100 wickets across all three formats.
- Arshdeep supported perfectly with early breakthroughs.
- India start the series with a massive win and strong confidence.
- South Africa need a quick reset before the second T20I.
India have announced themselves in the series with full authority. The pitch challenged everyone — except Hardik Pandya. Bumrah’s milestone made the night even more special. Now the question is: Can South Africa bounce back?