India captain Suryakumar Yadav was all smiles after his side produced a dominant all-round performance to beat South Africa in the first T20I, crediting the win to India’s fearless approach and impressive batting depth. Despite a shaky start, India posted a competitive total before dismantling South Africa for their lowest-ever T20I score.

After opting to bat, India slipped to 48 for 3 but recovered brilliantly thanks to Hardik Pandya’s explosive unbeaten 59 off just 28 balls. His late flourish pushed India to 175 for six—well above what the skipper initially expected. “We were 50:50 at the toss, but happy to bat. At 48 for 3, getting to 175 was fantastic. We were aiming for 160, so this was a bonus,” Suryakumar said during the post-match presentation.

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India’s batting lineup, packed with seven to eight genuine hitters, allowed them to keep attacking despite early setbacks. “We want everyone to play fearlessly and enjoy their batting. There will always be someone to step up,” Suryakumar added, acknowledging the team’s depth as a key factor.

The Indian bowlers then completely outclassed a strong South African lineup. Defending what seemed a par total, India bowled out the visitors for just 74 in 12.3 overs, sealing an emphatic 101-run victory. Suryakumar rotated six bowlers, and each delivered—Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Varun Chakaravarthy all picked up two wickets apiece.

Hardik Pandya, returning from injury, was handled with care and wasn’t used during the Powerplay. Suryakumar Yadav explained the tactical call: “Arshdeep and Bumrah were the best suited to start. The way they bowled with the new ball made the decision easy.”

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On Pandya’s return to bowling, Suryakumar expressed satisfaction. “It was important not to throw Hardik in straight away. He came in later, and the way he bowled made me very happy.”

With a strong start to the series, India will look to build on this commanding win as they prepare for the remaining matches.