South Africa hit a new low in T20Is as they lost the first game of the 5-match series against India by 101 runs on Tuesday in Cuttack. Chasing 176, the Proteas were bundled out for 74 in 12.3 overs, setting
their lowest score ever in the shortest format of the game.
The Proteas have now lost six T20Is by a margin of 100-plus runs, three of those to India. Their previous lowest – 87 in 16.5 overs – was also against India, which came in June 2022 in Rajkot.
South Africa’s Lowest Totals In T20Is
| Score | Opposition | Venue | Year |
| 74 all-out | India | Cuttack | 2025 |
| 87 all-out | India | Rajkot | 2022 |
| 89 all-out | Australia | Johannesburg | 2020 |
| 95 all-out | India | Johannesburg | 2023 |
| 96 all-out | Australia | Cape Town | 2020 |
As many as 6 South African batters were dismissed on single-digit scores in the chase of 176. Dewald Brewis top-scored with 22 runs off 14 balls, including a six and three fours.
Six South African batters were dismissed with single-digit scores while chasing 176. Dewald Brewis top-scored with 22 runs off 14 balls, including a six and three fours.
Earlier, all-rounder Hardik Pandya marked his return to competitive cricket with a blistering half-century, helping India recover from early setbacks to post a solid 175/6.
Returning after 74 days due to a left quadricep injury that sidelined him from the Asia Cup, Pandya came in at No. 6 and immediately shifted the match’s momentum.
India had stumbled during both the power play and the middle overs, losing six wickets. However, Pandya, who had demonstrated his fitness at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Baroda with an unbeaten 77 off 42 balls, counter-attacked with clean, fearless hitting, finishing on 59 not out off 28 balls, decorated with six fours and four sixes. It was his sixth T20I fifty.
He began with two towering sixes against Keshav Maharaj just after Tilak Varma (26) was dismissed, and then took on Anrich Nortje with a 17-run over, even stepping out to a 149kph delivery to punch it for four, showcasing a raw pace versus brute power duel that energised the packed Barabati Stadium.
Marco Jansen tried to trouble him with short balls, but Pandya responded with a fierce pull before racing towards his fifty. He hit a six and a four off Lutho Sipamla (2/38) in the 19th over and reached his half-century in 25 balls with a ramped six over third man off Nortje in the final over, celebrating it with a modest raise of the bat.
(With Agency Inputs)
