Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav wasted no time setting the pace against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban on November 8. Coming to the crease during the powerplay, Suryakumar instantly showcased his aggressive intent, sending a scorching straight drive past South African pacer Gerald Coetzee, followed by his signature flicked six over fine leg.
His early boundary blitz, paired with Sanju Samson’s steady stroke play, helped India power to 56-1 by the end of the six-over powerplay despite losing Abhishek Sharma early in the innings. Gerald Coetzee had delivered South Africa a promising start by dismissing Abhishek Sharma on the first ball of his spell in the fourth over.
However, Suryakumar, unfazed by the early setback, immediately counterattacked, hammering Coetzee for a boundary and a six, claiming 10 runs from the over. Six of these came courtesy of his famous fine-leg flick, leaving the bowler scrambling for answers.
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Earlier, South African skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to field, hoping to contain India’s batting lineup. Though India lost Sharma early, Suryakumar and Samson’s powerful partnership propelled the team to 99-2 by the halfway mark.
Captain Sky on the charge 👊
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Suryakumar contributed a brisk 21 off just nine balls, hitting two fours and a six, building a crucial 66-run stand with Samson, who later completed a well-earned half-century. Suryakumar Yadav’s aggressive approach, however, came to an end when South African quick Patrick Kruger struck, dismissing him with India at a strong 90-2 in the ninth over.
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This opening match in the three-game T20I series is the first face-off between South Africa and India since their thrilling World Cup final encounter in June 2024, setting the stage for another intense contest between the two sides.
