Hardik Pandya marked his return with a blazing 59 not out and a key wicket as India defeated South Africa by 101 runs in the opening T20I at Cuttack. Jasprit Bumrah completed 100 wickets as India took a 1-0 lead

Cuttack: Hardik Pandya made a memorable comeback to national colours, striking a mood-lifting unbeaten fifty and then taking a key wicket as India recorded a dominant 101-run win over South Africa in the opening match of the five-match series here on Tuesday.

The victory helped India take a 1-0 lead in the rubber and also pushed South Africa to their lowest-ever T20I total. Their previous lowest was also against India, 87 all out in Rajkot in 2022.

India had been pushed onto the back foot after South Africa asked them to bat first on a tacky red-soil surface, but Pandya’s comma

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