Team India’s top order struggled in the opening T20I against South Africa on Tuesday (December 9) at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Proteas captain Aiden Markram won the toss and decided to bat first in the match.
Shubman Gill, back after an injury break, began well with a four but was dismissed off the third ball of the first over by Lungi Ngidi. Next man in Suryakumar Yadav (12) also sent the ball across the ropes twice before being cleaned up by the same bowler in the third over with team score reading 17.
Abhishek Sharma was out for 17 and Tilak Varma for 26 after getting starts as India were 78/4. It needed contributions from all rounders like Hardik Pandya and Co to do the bulk of the work with bats to enable their side a decent first innings score.
Indian fans not happy with top-order power-hitters in 1st T20I vs South Africa. They meme’d their feelings on social networks. Here are some of the best memes:
Yuvraj Singh After Abhishek Sharma got out early :#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/XZgl4ttfld
— 🅰️ J (@EHuman0) December 9, 2025Shubman Gill is not a T20 player #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/5PnxbTB6jd
— जेंटल मैन 🪷 (@gentleman07_) December 9, 2025No worries as T20WC is round the corner and teams like Namibia, Italy, Oman and Nepal are participating 🥵 pic.twitter.com/0RbEVqdWhH
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) December 9, 2025Abhishek Sharma 🥶#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/CMtPBWWgXO
— Gagan🇮🇳 (@1no_aalsi_) December 9, 2025Abhishek Sharma 🥶#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/CMtPBWWgXO
— Gagan🇮🇳 (@1no_aalsi_) December 9, 2025when the top order has collapsed
Hardik Pandya with his sharp sixes: #IndvsSa pic.twitter.com/YhAkQycp9W
— SwatKat💃 (@swatic12) December 9, 2025I feel like Gill could've atleast waited until I turned on the tv but okay. pic.twitter.com/AhfigpmuEw
— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) December 9, 2025Surya watching Gill get out to a stupid shot pic.twitter.com/Xpa56I6YDz
— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) December 9, 2025Rohit Sharma dropping Gill from 2024 T20 WC squad : pic.twitter.com/daE4VXohQs
— 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 (@ImYorker93) December 9, 2025"We have found Virat Kohli's replacement saar " 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/vGMcMxQT99
— Sohel. (@SohelVkf) December 9, 2025Hardik Pandya’s Blazing Fifty Helps India Set Competitive Total in 1st T20I
Hardik Pandya walked in the 12th over with his team gasping at 78/4. On a difficult track, he got into his zone right away and started aggressively to end up with a 59*(28). Pandya struck four sixes and six fours during his entertaining innings which piloted the hosts to 175/6 in 20 overs. Complementing him were Axar Patel (23), Shivam Dube (11) and Jitesh Sharma (10 not out).
It was then Jasprit Bumrah and company who bowled magnificently to contain South Africa at 74/10 in 12.3 overs — sealing a win for the home side. India captain Suryakumar Yadav spoke about the win at the presentation.
“I told at the toss that we were 50-50 but very happy to bat first. 48/3 and then getting 175, the way Hardik, Axar and Tilak batted and then Jitesh coming in and chipping in, playing his role – first we thought we’ll get to 160, but 175 was unbelievable. There will be days when 2-3 batters won’t have their day but the others will cover it up.”
“They didn’t today but you will see it in the coming days. We want everyone to be fearless and enjoy their batting. Batting first, 48/3 and then scoring about 90-91 runs from 7-15 and then 45 runs in the last four was commendable. The way we bowled and the amount of options we had, 175 was a great effort,” Surya added.
The second T20I will take place on Thursday, December 11, at Mullanpur’s Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.
