India got off to a strong start, defeating South Africa by 101 runs in the first T20I in Cuttack. Both the team’s batting and bowling were excellent in this match. Captain Suryakumar Yadav said after the match that he was relieved to bat first, as the pitch was not easy. India scored 175 runs despite losing 3 wickets for 48 runs, and then the bowlers performed brilliantly, securing a big win over South Africa. The captain attributed the victory to the team’s confidence, fearless play, and collective effort.
Suryakumar Yadav specially mentioned few names for the win
Suryakumar Yadav revealed that he wasn’t entirely sure about the decision at the toss. However, he was pleased when India elected to bat first. Scoring 175 runs on the Cuttack pitch wasn’t easy, and the captain felt the score gave the team a significant advantage. He said the 101-run win on such a challenging surface was incredible. The team faced a difficult initial period, but the batsmen bounced back and established a strong foundation.
India had lost three wickets for just 48 runs. The captain described this situation as the most difficult moment of the match. However, he praised the strong performance of the middle order. Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Tilak Varma together steadied the innings and kept the run rate moving. According to the captain, the team was initially aiming for 160, but the batsmen performed better than expected, and the score reached 175. Furthermore, Jitesh Sharma’s quick innings in the end played a crucial role in taking the team to a big total.
Suryakumar described Hardik Pandya’s 59-run innings off 28 balls as a major turning point in the match. He said that Hardik’s proactive approach demonstrated the team’s determination. Returning to the field after an injury, Hardik displayed his form not only with the bat but also with the ball. The captain acknowledged that having an all-rounder like Hardik as captain provides the team with options and increases their fearlessness in batting.
The captain praised Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. Both provided a strong start with the new ball and put South Africa under pressure early on. Bumrah completed his 100th T20I wicket in this match.