Suryakumar Yadav EXPOSES bold call to block Hardik Pandya from bowling with new ball

India National Cricket Team skipper Suryakumar Yadav has revealed why he didn't use the premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya with the new ball in the T20I series opener against the South Africa National Cricket Team.

Suryakumar Yadav said that he was managing Hardik Pandya as he had just returned from an injury and knew that the pace-bowling duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh would get the job done with the new ball.

India bowled South Africa out for 74

The Men In Blue lost the toss, and they were invited to bat first in the T20I series opener at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. India utilised the conditions well and posted a huge score of 175/6 on the board.

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With the ball, the Indian team looked absolutely dominant, and they bowled out the opposition for 74 in 12.3 overs. Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, and Axar Patel bagged two wickets while Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube picked one wicket each.

Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah’s 100th T20I wicket comes off a NO-BALL!! Dewald Brevis' dismissal sparks controversy

Sub-100 all-out totals for South Africa in T20Is

74 vs IND, Cuttack, 2025

87 vs IND, Rajkot, 2022

89 vs AUS, Johannesburg, 2020

95 vs IND, Johannesburg, 2023

96 vs AUS, Cape Town, 2020

98 vs SL, Colombo (RPS), 2018

During the post-match presentation ceremony, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav said that he was happy with the team's performance. He stated:

"I told at the toss that we were 50-50, but very happy to bat first. I mean, absolutely. At 48 for 3, and then from there getting to 175… the way Hardik batted, Axar batted, Tilak batted, and in the end Jitesh coming in, chipping in and doing his role, I think it was very important.

Maybe in the next game you’ll see someone else covering it up - Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav further said that not all the batters in the team will perform every day and there will special performer who steps up. He said:

"At first, we thought we’d get to 160, but then 175 was unbelievable. I mean, absolutely. See, with 7-8 batters, there will be days when 2-3 batters won’t have their day, but then the other 4 batters will cover it up and they did cover it up today.

"Maybe in the next game you’ll see someone else covering it up. That’s how T20 cricket goes, and that’s how we want everyone to play. We want everyone to be fearless and enjoy their batting. India is having a great run."

I think Arshdeep and Bumrah were the perfect bowlers to bowl at the start - Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav introduced Hardik Pandya directly in the 7th over and used Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh with the new ball. Talking about this decision, he said:

"I think Arshdeep and Bumrah were the perfect bowlers to bowl at the start. The way they were bowling when they won the toss and bowled first, the way the new ball was being bowled by them, I think Arshdeep and Bumrah were the better option. But then Hardik coming in later on, coming back from injury, it was important to take care of him as well. And the way he bowled, I’m very happy with it.

"I mean, batting first, 48 for 3 and then scoring about 90-91 runs from overs 7 to 15, and then finishing with 40-44 runs in the last five overs to get to 175… I think it was really, really commendable. The way we bowled, the amount of options we had, I think 175 was quite decent."