The 1st IND-SA T20I saw the hosts claim an eight-wicket win. Batting first, South Africa were restricted to 106/8 in 20 overs. India bowled well as a unit and were rewarded.
India aced the PP overs with the ball, picking up five wickets. Both Deepak Chahar and Arshdeep Singh did remarkably well to hunt down SA, who were 30/5 in the first six overs.
R Ashwin gave away just 8 runs from his four overs, including a maiden. Axar conceded 16 and took one wicket. They gave away just 24 runs from eight overs.
Surya came in and got going from the onset, hammering Anrich Nortje for two maximums. India were under pressure until then. SKY then effortlessly showed his prowess, going for good shot-making.
KL Rahul took his time early on and absorbed the pressure. However, he shifted gears once things were under control. Their 93-run stand between him and SKY made the difference.
SA pacers bowled well upfront. They hit the deck hard and a lot of pace was on offer. Kagiso Rabada (1/16) was the chief architect.