Team India kicked off the five-match T20I series with a crushing 101-run victory over South Africa at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday (December 9).
Asked to bat first, the Men in Blue posted a formidable total of 175/6 in 20 overs, thanks to all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s whirlwind 59 not out off 28 balls.
In reply, the Proteas innings folded for a paltry 74 in 12.3 overs. All the Indian bowlers used by the captain managed to claim at least one wicket.
While the pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh took wickets each, the spin twin of Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel bagged a couple of scalps as well. Hardik and his fellow seam-bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube also troubled the South African batters, returning with wicket apiece.
After the flawless outing, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav expressed happiness with Hardik’s performance on return from injury and said that scoring 175 at such a surface was "unbelievable".
"I told at the toss that we were 50-50, but very happy to bat first. I mean, absolutely. At 48 for 3, and then from there getting to 175... the way Hardik batted, Axar batted, Tilak batted, and in the end, Jitesh coming in, chipping in and doing his role, I think it was very important. At first, we thought we'd get to 160, but then 175 was unbelievable. I mean, absolutely. See, with 7-8 batters, there will be days when 2-3 batters would not have their day, but then the other 4 batters will cover it up, and they did cover it up today. Maybe in the next game you will see someone else covering it up. That is how T20 cricket goes, and that's how we want everyone to play. We want everyone to be fearless and enjoy their batting," Surya said while speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Reflecting on his team's bowling, the captain said that starting off with Arshdeep and Bumrah was perfect and it was important to take care of Hardik Pandya, who was making his comeback after recovering from a left quadriceps injury.
"I think Arshdeep and Bumrah were the perfect bowlers to bowl at the start. The way they were bowling when they won the toss and bowled first, the way the new ball was being bowled by them, I think Arshdeep and Bumrah were the better option. But then Hardik coming in later on, coming back from injury, it was important to take care of him as well. And the way he bowled, I am very happy with it," he remarked.
Hardik earned the Player-of-the-Match accolade with India 1-0 up in the series. The second T20I will be played in Chandigarh on Thursday (December 11).
(With ANI Inputs)
