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India vs South Africa Match
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MATCH INFO
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MATCH :
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India vs South Africa Match
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COMPETITION :
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T20
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DATE:
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11-12-2025
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TIME:
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07.00 PM IST
05.30 PM UAE
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STADIUM
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Stadium
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India entered their home T20 World Cup as overwhelming favourites, but one potential hurdle has always been the uncontrollable toss and the challenge of batting first on a tacky, dew-bound surface. On the opening night of their 10-match build-up, that exact scenario unfolded — and India delivered an emphatic statement.
Hardik Pandya’s blistering 59 off 28 lifted India to 175 on a pitch where almost everyone else struggled, before the bowlers dismantled South Africa for their lowest T20I total. A 102-run win after losing the toss will have certainly alerted the rest of the contenders.
India’s early troubles
From the first over it was clear the surface was sticky and would ease up later under dew. Shubman Gill, returning from a neck injury, and captain Suryakumar Yadav both miscued lofted shots to mid-off and mid-on as Lungi Ngidi struck twice in the powerplay.
India’s attempt to delay Keshav Maharaj’s introduction by stacking the middle order with left-handers did not pay off. Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Axar Patel all failed to get going. Tilak and Axar crawled to a combined 49 off 53, unable to counter the steep bounce generated by South Africa’s tall fast bowlers. Abhishek, starved of the strike early, was undone by yet another superb catch from Marco Jansen, falling for 17 off 12.
Hardik rescues India
India were wobbling at 78 for 4 in the 12th over, staring at a sub-par total on a pitch expected to quicken under lights. Aiden Markram brought on Maharaj, banking on Hardik’s historically modest scoring rate against left-arm spin. Hardik responded with two effortless, no-look sixes that shifted the momentum instantly.
Even the returning Anrich Nortje, sharp and hostile earlier, was put under pressure as Hardik cracked him for two boundaries — one using Nortje’s pace, the other a commanding off-drive after dancing down the track. India plundered 30 runs from the final two overs, with only Jansen escaping significant damage. A ramp off Nortje brought up Hardik’s fifty and made him just the fourth Indian to reach 100 T20I sixes.
Arshdeep sets the tone
With the ball expected to skid on later, India desperately needed early breakthroughs. Arshdeep Singh delivered immediately. He removed Quinton de Kock for a duck with an awayswinger that also nipped away, and in his next over switched to wobble-seam to dismiss Tristan Stubbs for 14 off 9 — the first of three sharp catches by Jitesh Sharma.
Spinners tighten the grip, Bumrah reaches another landmark
Although strokeplay looked easier than in India’s innings, South Africa could not stitch together partnerships, losing a wicket at least every 16 balls. The most threatening stand came in the fifth over when Dewald Brevis briefly attacked Varun Chakravarthy, but Markram soon misread Axar’s length and lost his leg stump.
Hardik then struck with his first ball, removing David Miller via an inside edge brilliantly taken by Jitesh. Varun Chakravarthy cleaned up Donovan Ferreira and Marco Jansen with contrasting deliveries — a quick one, then a slower, deceptive one.
The procession continued. Jasprit Bumrah reached and crossed the milestone of 100 T20I wickets, becoming only the fifth bowler ever to achieve the landmark in all three international formats. And Shivam Dube — likely chosen ahead of Rinku Singh for his bowling option — wrapped up the innings to give the team management one more reason to smile.
