Hardik Pandya starred with 59* and 1-16, leading India to a 101-run T20I win over South Africa in Cuttack.

Hardik Pandya was named Player of the Match after scoring an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls and taking 1-16 to help India defeat South Africa by 101 runs in the first T20I at Cuttack. His innings, featuring five fours and four sixes, came amid a challenging pitch, and he credited improved fitness and mental resilience for his strong return from injury. Pandya emphasized team-focused goals and self-belief, highlighting support from loved ones and the crowd’s energy. India’s bowlers restricted South Africa to 74, with four wickets shared among Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel. The win gave India a 1-0 lead in the five-match series as they prepare for the T20 World Cup.