India vs South Africa 1st T20I LIVE: IND win by 101 runs (SA 74 all out)

India did not put a foot wrong

An emphatic win in the #INDvSA T20I series opener 🥳#TeamIndia register a 1⃣0⃣1⃣-run victory in Cuttack to go 1⃣-0⃣ up 🙌

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/tiemfwcNPh@IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/mw3oxC5AHw

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 9, 2025

That is it. Shivam Dube ends the proceedings with a wicket, as he gets Sipamla. India win by 101 runs here.
South Africa 74 all out

Axar gets Nortje now. Bowled, and India are 1 wicket away from a famous win. What a superb showing.
South Africa 72/9

And in the same over, Bumrah strikes again. This time it is the turn of Keshav Maharaj. He bangs it short, and Maharaj ends up edging straight into the hands of the keeper. It is 70/8 now.

Don't ask how it happened, but Bumrah has his 100th wicket in T20Is, after waiting for a long time. He removes Brevis for 22 from 14. 
South Africa 69/7

Varun has his second wicket now. After getting hit for a six, the bowler drops the ball short, it comes into Jansen, and it crashes into the stumps. He is out for 12 from 12.
South Africa 68/6

This is going downhill for SA, with eah passing over. Now Varun has a wicket; the ball bounces more than expected, and Fereira edges straight to Jitesh.
South Africa 50/5

What is even happening here.. Hardik Pandya comes into the attack, and he has a wicket on the first delivery itself. The ball pitches and comes back into Miller, and he ends up edging. 
South Africa 45/4 in 6.2 overs

Axar come, and picks a wicket on the very first ball of his spell. The ball comes in sharply and Markram is bowled. Loses his leg stump, is out for 14 from 14.
South Africa 40/3 in 5.1 overs

The SA batters are living dangerously here at the moment. Markram edges one from Bumrah but stays wide from the first slip. 
South Africa 28/2 in 4 overs.

South Africa are in deep trouble here. Arshdeep Singh induces an edge from Stubbs, and he is gone for 14 from 9 deliveries. 
SA 16/2 in 2.3 overs

Arshdeep Singh strikes in his second delivery as he gets rid of Quinton de Kock for a duck. Abhishek Sharma takes an easy catch at the slips as South Africa lose an early wicket.

Arshdeep Singh continues with his routine of taking wickets in the first over as Quinton De Kock is dismissed for a two ball duck 🦆

📸: JioHotstar #INDvsSA #T20I #Cuttack #Insidesport #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/tvFycKk0Vy

— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) December 9, 2025

South Africa are 0/1

Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock are out in the middle to commence the run-chase for South Africa. The surface is a tough one to bat on but it will be harder for India because of the dew factor. India's highest wicket-taker in T20is - Arshdeep Singh starts with the new ball for India. 
South Africa need 176 runs to win

• 8: Suryakumar Yadav
• 4: Abhishek Sharma
• 4: Rohit Sharma
• 3: Hardik Pandya
• 3: Yashasvi Jaiswal
• 3: Yuvraj Singh

𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦𝐬 💯

1⃣0⃣0⃣ T20I sixes for Hardik Pandya 🔥

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/tiemfwcNPh #INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/mZjJXhr5S9

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 9, 2025

India finish at 176/6, thanks to the brilliance from Hardik Pandya, who single-handedly turned around the game for the hosts. At one point, it didn't look like the men in Blue would get to 150 but the all-rounder has done it and that too in a stunning fashion on his comeback to international cricket. All eyes on the Indian bowlers now.

Hardik Pandya’s blazing 59* off 28 balls helps India post a solid total in the 1st T20I against South Africa 🇮🇳🏏#INDvSA #IndianCricketTeam #HardikPandya #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/9xTaMIrI61

— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) December 9, 2025

Hardik Pandya slams a half-century off 25 deliveries and he brings it up in style with a six! What a knock! He has struck four sixes and five fours. Three more balls left in the final over. How much more damage can Pandya do?
India are 169/6

While the rest of the batters have struggled, Hardik Pandya looks like he is batting on a completely different surface. He brings up the 150 for India in style with a six and follows it up with a four off the next delivery.
India are 156/6

Just when India needed to get going, Shivam Dube is clean bowled by a 108 kmph delivery from Ferreira. South Africa's gamble of using a spinner works as India lose their 6th wicket.
India are 137/6

Anrich Nortje may be firing rockets at the Indian batters but Hardik Pandya isn't intimidated whatsoever. He races to 26 runs off just 11 deliveries. 17 runs come off the 15th over.
India are 121/5

Axar Patel is the latest batter to depart as he gets caught out by Ferreira. It comes right after he slammed a six over the bowler's head in the previous delivery. India are five wickets down now.
India are 104/5

All teams experiment. But the humility to acknowledge errors and course correct them midway seems to be missing in this team. They’d rather double down on those mistakes to drive home their point. Not the correct approach. Doesn’t prioritise the team’s interest either. #INDvSA

— Priyank Panchal (@PKpanchal09) December 9, 2025

Hardik Pandya creates an instant impact on his return to international cricket as he slams two sixes off Keshav Maharaj. Just what India needed as they get 16 runs from that over.

MAXIMUMS x 2⃣! 🔥

Hardik Pandya announces his arrival to the crease in style 😎

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/tiemfwcNPh #TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @hardikpandya7 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/dMCrGJDP4T

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 9, 2025

India are 96/4

Tilak Varma (26) is the latest Indian batter to depart as Marco Jansen braves the floodlights to take a brilliant catch on the boundary rope. Ngidi strikes yet again as India lose their fourth wicket.
India are 78/4

• 27 inns: Virat Kohli
• 28 inns: Abhishek Sharma
• 29 inns: KL Rahul
• 31 inns: Suryakumar
• 34 inns: Tilak Varma

Tilak Varma pumps a delivery off Anrich Nortje for a maximum, sending the ball out of the stadium. This forces the umpire to change the ball! What a shot from the southpaw! 8 runs come from that over and at the end of 10 overs, India are 71/3

Keshav Maharaj is the first spinner to bowl in the IND vs SA 1st T20I. He concedes 9 runs in his very first over as Tilak Varma and Axar Patel attempt to keep the scoreboard ticking.
India are 63/3

After a couple of boundaries, Abhishek Sharma is forced to depart as he gets caught out by Jansen for 17 runs. The Indian opener attempts a big hit but fails to get the distance, and Jansen, who puts in a dive, takes a catch to get rid of the batter. Sipamla gets his first wicket in the game.
India are 48/3

India have managed to post 40 runs in the powerplay in the 1st T20I in Cuttack. Despite losing two early wickets, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma have steadied the ship for the hosts. 
India are 44/2

Tilak Varma reaches a milestone as he breaches the 1000-run mark in T20i cricket. He reaches the milestone with a boundary. India recover well after the early loss of vice-captain Gill and captain Suryakumar Yadav.

𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 🔓

1⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣ T20I runs and counting for the impressive Tilak Varma 👏

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/tiemfwcNPh #TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/L4wr701GCV

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 9, 2025

Suryakumar Yadav departs after a couple of boundaries as Lungi Ngidi joins the party. The Indian captain gets caught out at mid-on. India in deep trouble now as they have lost two wickets in quick succession.
India are 17/2

Lungi Ngidi has the final say as skipper Suryakumar Yadav departs after a small cameo of 1️⃣2️⃣

📸: JioHotstar #INDvsSA #T20I #Cuttack #Insidesport #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/1NWkBEhokV

— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) December 9, 2025

Just 1 run off the 2nd over. Clearly, Suryakumar Yadav struggled against Jansen in that over. A shaky start for India

After hitting the first ball for a boundary via a thick outside edge over the short third man, Shubman Gill has holed out. He skips down the tracks and looks to loft the ball over mid-off but doesn't time the ball and Marco Jansen takes an easy catch.

An early blow for the Men in Blue as Shubman Gill departs after scoring just 4️⃣

📸: JioHotstar #INDvsSA #T20I #Cuttack #Insidesport #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/UGUUExhmYE

— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) December 9, 2025

Coming from injury and boasting an average T20I record, Shubman Gill will look to stamp his authority in Cuttack.  Abishek Sharma will take strike as Lungi Ngidi has the new ball in hand.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir giving the pep talk in the Indian team huddle ahead of the first T20I against South Africa 🗣️🏏

📸: JioHotstar #INDvsSA #T20I #Cuttack #Insidesport #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/seX3eUuP65

— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) December 9, 2025

Toss Update 🪙

🇿🇦 South Africa / 🇮🇳 India have won the toss and elected to bat / bowl first.

The return of David Miller and Anrich Nortje brings an extra spark to #TheProteas Men! 🔥

Here’s how we line up for the opening match of the series. 🏏#Unbreakable pic.twitter.com/yv6Vo6NedA

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 9, 2025

Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana and Washington Sundar have been excluded from India's playing XI. This means Jitesh Sharma will be the wicketkeeper.
India playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh

South Africa win the toss and opt to bowl first in the 1st T20I in Cuttack. Another toss loss for India...
India's toss record in T20Is in 2025

• Matches: 18
• Tosses Won: 8

India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC)*, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs

New threads 💙
Same dream 🏆

Eyes on the T20I series opener ⭐️💪 #TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/0Ydytkx2bH

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 9, 2025

As per reports, a red-soil pitch is expected to be rolled out for the IND vs SA 1st T20I, which means pacers will get more assistance from the surface. This is contrary to the usual black soil pitch used for games in Cuttack, where spinners get more help. The team which wins the toss might want to bowl first in the contest. It is pertinent to point out that only 3 T20Is have been held at the venue so far.

What are your views on this? 🤔#RavichandranAshwin #VarunChakaravarthy #INDvSA #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/EQ8TdJfrmz

— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) December 9, 2025

A cool night is on the cards during the IND vs SA 1st T20I, with dew likely to play a key factor during the latter half of the contest. As per AccuWeather, the maximum and minimum temperatures for the day will be 24 and 14 degree Celsius respectively. There is zero percent chance of rain on Tuesday.

Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the India vs South Africa 1st T20I from the Barabati stadium in Cuttack. Catch all the latest updates and scores here. Toss coming up at 6.30 PM followed by LIVE action from 7 PM onwards. Stay tuned!