India Cruise to 61-Run Win Over South Africa in T20I Opener

India kicked off the four-match T20I series against South Africa with a convincing 61-run victory in the first match at Durban, thanks to a blistering century from Sanju Samson and a tight bowling display from Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi.

Samson's impressive knock of 107 off 50 balls, which included 7 fours and 10 sixes, laid the foundation for India's innings, which totalled 202/8 after being invited to bat first. The wicketkeeper-batter's 20th T20I century came in just 20 overs, making it the fastest against South Africa and the quickest by an Indian. His partnership with Suryakumar Yadav and Deepak Hooda was pivotal in injecting some much-needed momentum into the Indian innings, setting the stage for a promising total.

Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi were the backbone of India's bowling attack, scalping three wickets each. Chakravarthy dispatched Gerald Coetzee for 3/37, while Bishnoi restricted Heinrich Klaasen to 25 runs off 22 balls. The spin duo's efforts proved crucial as South Africa were bowled out for a paltry 141. A hamstring injury to Heinrich Klaasen and the lack of big partnerships did not help matters for the Proteas, who eventually fell short of chasing down the target.

This win serves as a strong statement of intent for the Indian team, who will look to carry this momentum forward in the remaining three matches of the series. After their blistering start, they are likely to be under pressure to respond as intensely, but with the batting and bowling foundation laid, they seem well-equipped to tackle the challenge ahead. The second T20I is set to take place on January 16, with India riding high on the confidence generated from this hard-fought win.