IND vs SA 2025: India Skittle South Africa for Lowest T20I Total in Crushing 101-Run Victory to Take 1-0 Lead
Hardik Pandya’s 59 powers India to a 101 run win as South Africa collapse for 74 in the 1st T20I at Cuttack.
India started the five match T20I series with a strong 101 run win over South Africa in Cuttack. The bowlers wrapped up the chase quickly as South Africa were bowled out for just 74, their lowest score ever in T20Is.
India had posted 175 for 6 after a shaky start. Hardik Pandya played the match changing knock with an unbeaten 59 from only 28 balls. His innings had six fours and four sixes and it pushed India to a total that proved too big for the visitors.
Lowest all-out Totals vs India in T20Is
| Score | Team | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | UAE | Dubai | 2025 |
| 66 | New Zealand | Ahmedabad | 2023 |
| 70 | Ireland | Dublin (Malahide) | 2018 |
| 74 | South Africa | Cuttack | 2025 |
| 80 | England | Colombo (RPS) | 2012 |
India were in trouble early at 48 for 3 in the seventh over. Shubman Gill fell after hitting a boundary. Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma also departed while trying to attack the bowling.
Tilak Varma and Axar Patel then steadied the innings. They kept the scoreboard moving but were not able to lift the scoring rate. The game changed when Hardik walked in and immediately went after the bowlers.
His comeback to T20Is could not have been better. He took control of the final overs and gave India the strong finish they needed on a slow surface.
This was also India’s first T20I win over South Africa at Barabati Stadium after two previous losses. The home crowd enjoyed every moment as the bowlers completed the job with discipline and pace.
The South African chase never got going. Regular wickets pushed them into deep trouble and the Indian bowlers kept the pressure on. The final total of 74 showed how difficult the pitch had become under lights.
Sub-100 all-out Totals for South Africa in T20Is
74 vs IND, Cuttack, 2025
87 vs IND, Rajkot, 2022
89 vs AUS, Johannesburg, 2020
95 vs IND, Johannesburg, 2023
96 vs AUS, Cape Town, 2020
98 vs SL, Colombo (RPS), 2018
South Africa have now lost six T20Is by a margin of 100-plus runs, three of those to India.
India will now look to build on this start as the series moves forward.
