IND vs SA, 1st T20I: 5 Key Talking Points from India’s 101-run Win over South Africa in Cuttack

Team India has taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series with a commanding 101-run win over South Africa in the opening game at the Barabati Cricket Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday, December 9.

After posting a respectable total of 175/6, Team India bowlers bundled out the Proteas for a mere 74 in 12.3 overs, with Jasprit Bumrah (2/17), Arshdeep Singh (2/14), Varun Chakravarthy (2/19), and Axar Patel (2/7) combined to pick up eight wickets to dismantle the visitors’ batting line-up and secure a dominating victory.

On that note, let’s take a look at key talking points from the Men in Blue’s commanding victory over the Proteas.

Shubman Gill’s performance as a T20I opener came under heavy scrutiny as he was dismissed for just four runs in the series opener in Cuttack. India’s T20I vice-captain hit a four before he was removed by Lungi Ngidi. His cheap dismissal is a string of his struggles as an opener since his return to the T20I setup after a year in the Asia Cup 2025. Since his return, Gill has scored 263 runs at an average of 26.30 in 13 matches, raising concerns over his consistency.

Following his dismissal, fans demanded the return of Sanju Samson as an opener, as he was pushed down the order to accommodate Shubman Gill at the top of the batting line-up. In the absence of Gill, Samson amassed 522 runs, including 3 centuries and a fifty, at an average of 32 in 17 matches, strengthening calls for his return as opener.

There is no end to Suryakumar Yadav’s batting struggles, as India T20I skipper was dismissed cheaply for 12 off 11 balls. Suryakumar smashed a four and a six before he was removed by Lungi Ngidi. Ever since taking over as full-time T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav has struggled to maintain consistency, registering just two fifties in 26 matches, with fans growing concerned over his ongoing poor form.

In the last 19 T20I innings, Suryakumar Yadav has scored just 222 runs at an average of 13.87 and a strike rate of 119.35, underlining his prolonged slump and poor impact in the shortest format. Since the 35-year-old will lead the Men in Blue in the T20 World Cup next year, questions are rising over his ability to deliver consistently on the big stage.

Team India star all-rounder Hardik Pandya made a brilliant comeback to international cricket after a 3-month hiatus due to a quadriceps injury. The 32-year-old played a brilliant unbeaten knock of 59 off 28 balls to help the Men in Blue post a competitive total on the board after an early collapse. India were at 104/5 at the end of 14 overs before Hardik lifted to 175/6, adding 71 runs in the remaining five of the innings.

Apart from the bat, Hardik Pandya contributed with the ball by taking a wicket, completing an all-around performance on his return to India. Before his international return, Hardik made his comeback to competitive cricket in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored 77* and 10, and picked a wicket each for Baroda against Punjab and Hyderabad, respectively.

Arshdeep Singh once again proved why he is one of the most reliable bowlers with the new ball for Team India in the T20Is. The left-arm pacer provided an early breakthrough for the Men in Blue by dismissing Quinton de Kock for a duck in the opening over of the hosts’ bowling, putting South Africa under pressure early on in their run chase. Thereafter, Arshdeep removed Tristan Stubbs for 14 and left the Proteas reeling at 16/2.

With two early wickets of South Africa by Arshdeep laid the foundation for Team India’s victory, as other bowlers, including Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakraavarthy, and Axar Patel, capitalized on the pressure to dismantle the Proteas’ batting lineup and help India secure a dominant win.

Team India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has joined the elite list by taking 100 wickets in T20Is. Bumrah achieved this milestone by dismissing Dewald Brevis, becoming one of the fastest Indian bowlers to reach 100 T20I wickets and solidifying his status as a premier death-over specialist. He took his 101st T20I wicket by dismissing Keshav Maharaj

Jasprit Bumrah became just the second Indian bowler after Arshdeep Singh (107) and the 31st overall to reach the 100-wicket milestone in T20 internationals. In his T20I career, Bumrah has picked 101 wickets at an average of 17.92 and an economy rate of 6.35 in 81 matches.