Chasing a target of 107, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav smashed unbeaten fifties to help India beat South Africa by eight wickets in the first T20I. Suryakumar Yadav (50 not out off 33) provided India with some much-needed impetus in the chase after a shaky start. KL Rahul (51 not out off 56) too has found his feet after the early dismissals of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Earlier, Arshdeep Singh bagged three wickets, while Deepak Chahar and Harshal Patel took two each as India managed to restrict South Africa to a below-par total of 106/8 in 20 overs. After winning the toss, Chahar got the ball rolling for India with the wicket of the Proteas captain Temba Bavuma in the final ball of the opening over. Arshdeep then dismissed Quinton de Kock, Rilee Rossouw and David Miller in the second over to rattle the visitors. Tristan Stubbs also perished in the third over with Chahar bagging his second. Keshav Maharaj (41) put in a strong rearguard to take South Africa past the 100-run mark. India made four changes from the third T20I against Australia, with Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal make way for Deepak Chahar, Rishabh Pant, Arshdeep Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Arshdeep Singh, Player of the Match, said I had thought about what to say if I get the man of the match award and got a little excited (when he was eager to come and talk). In the first over DC bhai (Deepak Chahar) set the tone and we knew there was plenty of help from the surface. The plan was to keep it simple and bowl in the right areas. I enjoyed Miller’s wicket as I thought he was expecting an outswinger but I bowled an inswinger instead. The thought was to get his (Maharaj) wicket but he played well and the plan could have been different. I am refreshed, had a good training session at NCA and hopefully I give such performances moving forward as well.
Rohit Sharma said, The wicket was tricky. You learn a lot playing such a game. You understand what the team needs to do in tough conditions. It was nice to play a game like that. We knew the bowlers will get something seeing grass on the pitch, but we didn’t expected help for the full 20 overs. It was still damp. Both teams were in the contest and the team that played better won the game. We started well, got 5 wickets in quick time and that was the turning point. Perfect showcase of how to bowl when there is help for the pacers (talking about Deepak Chahar and Arshdeep). We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Got to respect the conditions. Lost two wickets and that partnership between KL and Surya got us home.