Dominating the opening T20 game against South Africa, India prevailed 61 runs at Kingsmead. Leading with Sanju Samson ‘s amazing 107 runs off 50 balls, India’s batting first recorded an incredible 202/8; Tilak Varma also added 33 runs. South Africa battled in response, only managing 141 runs in 17.5 overs. Claiming three wickets each, Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi were India’s top bowlers; Avesh Khan contributed two. With his amazing performance, Samson won the Player of the Match trophy, therefore giving India a 1-0 series lead.

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Players were perplexed as India’s national song stopped halfway before the first T20I against South Africa

When India’s national Anthem was interrupted twice before the first T20I between South Africa and India at Kingsmead, Durban, Friday (November 8), Cricket South Africa (CSA) found itself in an embarrassing position.

Before the game, the players from both sides queued up for the national anthems along with player escorts. The players were perplexed when India’s national anthem started as they kept singing when it suddenly stopped the first time only to halt once again during the second try disrupting the flow of the hymn. Although CSA has not yet made a public announcement, it is thought that a technical problem caused the disturbance. India beat South Africa in the 1st T20I and this comes after they defeated them in the ICC T20 World Cup earlier in 2024. The World Champions are at their best and will continue to shine under Suryakumar Yadav , who takes on the responsibility for India T20 format after veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirements after the T20 World Cup. 

India will now take on South Africa in the 2nd T20I match of the series on  Sunday, November 10, 2024. 

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India vs South Africa T20I Squad

India Squad:  Sanju Samson (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma,  Hardik Pandya , Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Dayal, Ravi Bishnoi, Ramandeep Singh , Jitesh Sharma

South Africa Squad: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Reeza Hendricks, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Nqabayomzi Peter, Ottneil Baartman, Donovan Ferreira, Mihlali Mpongwana, Patrick Kruger