Overview
- India posted 175/6 before bowling South Africa out for 74 in 12.3 overs to take a 1–0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
- Arshdeep Singh removed Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs in the powerplay, finishing with 2/14 and drawing level with Bhuvneshwar Kumar on 47 powerplay wickets for India.
- Hardik Pandya, playing his first match since September 26, 2025, struck an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls at No. 6 and took a wicket with his first delivery.
- Jasprit Bumrah returned 2/17 as Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy also took two wickets each, with Shivam Dube closing the innings and Hardik adding one.
- Arshdeep said his plan was to hit the seam and use the helpful surface, with the series moving to New Chandigarh for the second T20I on December 11.