IND vs SA [WATCH]: Axar Patel cleans up Aiden Markram with a beauty in the first T20I

The opening T20I of the India vs South Africa series at the Barabati Stadium witnessed a moment of pure bowling brilliance when Axar Patel dismissed South African skipper Aiden Markram with a stunning delivery. The dismissal, which came off the very first ball of the sixth over, became one of the standout highlights of India’s commanding victory.

Axar Patel produces a beauty to uproot Aiden Markram’s stumps

South Africa, in pursuit of India’s competitive total, were looking to rebuild their innings when Markram took strike against Axar. What followed was a textbook example of left-arm accuracy and subtle variation. Axar bowled a flatter-length delivery targeting middle and leg, giving the batter almost no room to manoeuvre. Deceptively skidding through instead of turning, the ball zipped into Markram, who pressed back trying to work it towards the leg side.

But the South African captain misjudged the line and pace. Beaten on the inside edge, Markram watched in disbelief as the ball straightened just enough to clip the leg stump, sending it cartwheeling. Axar’s celebration reflected the significance of the breakthrough, while the crowd erupted in appreciation of the perfectly executed delivery.

Here’s the video:

Spinners doing the trick 🪄

Axar Patel 🤝 Varun Chakaravarthy #TeamIndia chipping away at the wickets in Cuttack 🔢

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/tiemfwcNPh #INDvSA | @akshar2026 | @chakaravarthy29 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/Hjg7nUKCDV

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 9, 2025

Hardik Pandya powers India to commanding win

India opened the five-match T20I series with a dominant performance, riding on Hardik Pandya’s explosive innings to seize control after a shaky start on a challenging surface. While most batters struggled to find rhythm, Pandya’s counter-attacking knock transformed India’s total from a potentially below-par score into a highly competitive one.

The momentum he created carried into the bowling effort, where India’s attack dismantled South Africa’s top order in quick succession, removing Quinton de Kock, Tristan Stubbs, Markram and David Miller before the visitors could build any foundation. Dewald Brevis tried to steady the chase with a composed effort amid constant pressure, but as wickets fell around him and the asking rate kept rising, South Africa never recovered and eventually folded for just 74.