India vs South Africa, 1st T20I Highlights: India beat South Africa by 61 runs, lead series 1-0

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India won by 61 runs

Avesh comes in to replace Hardik. With a short and straight delivery, Maharaj attempts to pull it, but Ramandeep dives in an unsuccessful attempt to keep the ball under control. The tension is palpable. Avesh delivers another slightly short ball, and Peter seizes the opportunity to hit it straight back over the umpire's head for a boundary! The match is now over, Avesh angles a delivery towards Maharaj, who swings and misses, resulting in the ball crashing into the stumps.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: South Africa 135/9 in 17 overs

Direct hit and he's gone! There was a mix-up between Maharaj and Jansen in the middle, and Surya made an inch-perfect throw to rattle the timber.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: South Africa 129/8 in 16 overs

Hardik returns to the attack. He delivers a short ball outside off, and Coetzee confidently goes through the line, sending the ball soaring over the boundary for a magnificent SIX! Not content with just one, Hardik bowls another short delivery, which Coetzee pulls even further, resulting in another impressive SIX! A total of 15 runs are scored off this over.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: South Africa 101/7 in 14 overs

Axar finally bowled his first over of the evening. The ball was slightly short, and Jansen rocked back to hit it to midwicket for a FOUR! Jansen then quickly took a single, bringing South Africa's score to 100. A tough catch was dropped! Coetzee attempted to hit a short ball to the long on region but didn't quite get the elevation. Rinku made a diving effort, but unfortunately, the catch was dropped in the end.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: South Africa 93/7 in 13 overs

Bishnoi sends Kruger packing with a fantastic catch by Hardik! Similane is up next and he starts off with a bang, hitting a six over long on. But unfortunately, he gets trapped leg before and the umpire doesn't hesitate to raise his finger. Tough break for South Africa!

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: South Africa 87/5 in 12 overs

What an impressive comeback from Varun! He bowled a quicker delivery through the air, catching Klaasen off guard as he attempted to play a shot off the back foot. Unfortunately for Klaasen, the ball went straight into the waiting hands of Axar at long off. Kruger is now the next batsman in line. Varun continues his dominance as he picks up two wickets in a single over. Miller is the latest victim, caught out by Varun's skillful bowling.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: South Africa 68/3 in 8 overs

Varun continues his delivery, pitching it short. Miller expertly smashes the ball through the shorter midwicket region for a magnificent six!

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: South Africa 49/3 in 6 overs

Varun Chakravarthy has taken over the attack, replacing Avesh, and he has delivered the breakthrough! Rickleton attempted to play a shot outside the line, only to find himself hitting the ball straight into the waiting hands of Tilak.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: South Africa 41/2 in 4 overs

Avesh continues his spell with a well-directed delivery. The batsman plays it towards the pads and manages to loft it for a comfortable double. However, Avesh strikes back immediately with a slightly short delivery. Stubbs attempts to play it on the up, but unfortunately, it goes straight into the hands of SKY at covers.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: South Africa 19/1 in 2 overs

Avesh Khan begins the over with a dot ball. He delivers a back of a length delivery that is slightly wide outside off stump. Rickleton elegantly drives the ball through the covers off the back foot, resulting in a boundary. Despite Khan adjusting his length in the next delivery, Rickleton confidently plays the ball down the ground for another four runs. The over concludes with a dot ball.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: South Africa 9/1 in 1 over

Arshdeep will begin the over with the ball. Markram elegantly opens the face of his bat and drives the ball through extra covers for a boundary! Showing his skill once again, Markram confidently hits the ball through the line past covers for another four! However, Arshdeep has the final say in this exchange. With a delivery angled away from the batsman, Markram attempts a drive but only manages to edge the ball to Samson behind the stumps. 

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 202/8 in 20 overs

Jansen began the over with a wide delivery down the leg side. Taking advantage of the short and wide ball, Axar attempted a lofted shot but unfortunately, it landed straight into the hands of Stubbs, who made an easy catch - his second of the night. Ravi Bishnoi was the next batsman to come in. He managed to get off the mark with a single, helping India reach the 200-run mark. Jansen then delivered a perfectly executed yorker that shattered Arshdeep's stumps, only to have the wicket disallowed due to a no-ball.

Despite the setback, Jansen made a strong comeback by bowling a dot ball with another yorker. Bishnoi swung and missed at the next delivery, attempting to steal a single, but Klaasen and Jansen combined to dismiss him.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 198/6 in 19 overs

Coetzee is set to bowl the penultimate over. He begins with a full toss, which Axar skillfully guides through the extra cover region for a boundary! Next, towards the pads, Rinku effortlessly flicks the ball towards the fine leg region for another four runs! However, the next delivery is short and down the leg side, resulting in Rinku's dismissal. He attempted a similar shot, but unfortunately, it took an edge and Klaasen made a spectacular diving catch to send Rinku back to the pavilion.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 182/5 in 17 overs

Coetzee dismisses Hardik! The delivery was short and slightly outside off, causing Hardik to loft the ball. However, he failed to generate enough power, resulting in the ball landing straight into the hands of Jansen at deep point.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 167/3 in 15 overs

Samson reaches his century with a single! Scoring 100 runs in consecutive matches, the crowd at Kingsmead rises to their feet, applauding his brilliant performance. A short delivery is hit past short fine leg for a four! Another short delivery, Tilak attempts a slog sweep but fails, sending the ball straight into the hands of Jansen. The superb cameo from the southpaw comes to an end.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 162/2 in 14 overs

Tilak expertly drives the ball past the backward point fielder for a boundary! With a full and wide delivery, Tilak elegantly kneels down and sends the ball soaring over the boundary for a maximum, bringing India's total to 150 runs. Another short delivery is dispatched with power by Samson, as he pulls the ball for another six runs.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 142/2 in 13 overs

Simelane delivers a good wide yorker, but Samson responds with an exceptional late shot, sending the ball to the boundary for a FOUR! The next delivery is slightly short, prompting Samson to swing at it, resulting in an outside edge that races away for another FOUR! A fuller delivery follows, and Samson showcases his skill by going inside out, extending his arms to the limit and smashing a massive six!

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 124/2 in 12 overs

Peter has replaced Simelane. A full delivery is sent down, and Tilak executes a powerful slog sweep, resulting in a boundary. The next ball is straight and full, allowing Samson to elegantly go through the line and loft it over the bowler's head for a massive six.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 111/2 in 11 overs

Samson confidently strides down the track and effortlessly smacks the ball over the bowler's head for a massive SIX! With that shot, India also reaches the 100-run mark. The ball was short and aimed towards the leg stump, but Samson skillfully gets down on one knee and sends it flying towards deep midwicket for a boundary, scoring a FOUR!

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 99/2 in 10 overs

Tilak is finally off the mark with a single as he nudges one towards the leg side. The ball is slightly short and aimed towards the hips, Tilak decides to go for it and lofts it high enough for it to sail over the ropes. That's a SIX!

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 90/2 in 9 overs

Patrick Kruger has come in to replace Maharaj. Samson hits a full and wide ball over extra cover for a FOUR! Kruger has overstepped, so it's a free hit for SKY. Surya then smacks a full toss high over the short fine leg fielder, but Coetzee makes a superb stop near the boundary rope to save a couple of runs.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 75/1 in 8 overs

Nqabayomzi Peter is now in the attack, replacing Coetzee. He delivers a short ball towards the middle and leg, and it's smashed on the leg side for a massive SIX! That's two sixes in a row for Samson! The next delivery is similar, but this time it's an even bigger hit! What a way to bring up his half century, reaching it in just 27 balls.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 49/1 in 5 overs

Samson rocks back, uses his bottom hand, and smacks it square for a boundary! The ball was full and aimed towards the pads, and boom! Samson stands tall and delivers a massive six! The Indian duo has a great strategy in place as they haven't allowed the dismissal of Abhishek to slow down their momentum. SKY plays a late shot through the point region for another boundary!

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 34/1 in 4 overs

Gerald Coetzee starts off strong with his first delivery! He bowls a back of a length ball, Abhishek attempts to loft it but ends up miscuing it. Markram then sprints and takes a fantastic catch! This is a crucial breakthrough for the home team.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 24/1 in 3 overs

Samson gives himself some room, moves down the track, and smacks it through covers for a FOUR! The ball is angled away from the batter, but Samson steps out early and smokes it over long off for a SIX!

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 12/0 in 2 overs

Abhishek confidently steps up to the crease, takes a swing, and sends the ball soaring over the covers for a fantastic FOUR! He then quickly switches ends with a single off the next ball. The bowler gives some width, Samson goes for a big drive but doesn't connect. The next delivery is similar, and this time Samson connects perfectly, sending the ball racing past mid-off for another FOUR! The over ends with a dot ball.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: India 2/0 in 1 over

Samson starts off with a quick single on the first delivery. Abhishek swings and misses at a slightly outside off and quick ball, resulting in a dot. The next delivery is short, prompting Abhishek to come down the track, but he mishits it and manages to steal a single.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: Teams

India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan

South Africa (Playing XI): Ryan Rickelton(w), Aiden Markram(c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Patrick Kruger, Marco Jansen, Andile Simelane, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Nqabayomzi Peter

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: South Africa opt to bowl

Aiden Markram: We are going to bowl first. Looks a pretty good wicket. There has been some rain around this week and if there's moisture we want to make use of it. Fantastic opportunity for guys to make their debuts at home and it is a great time for them to enjoy the game. We are quite a competitive team and the discussions have been how can we get positive results.

Suryakumar Yadav: We were looking to bat first. The wicket looks nice, better than the practice wicket and we will try to put runs on the board. The guys in the dressing room have made my job easier, the fearless approach they play with for their respective franchises and have brought the same approach to the team.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: 

Pacer Arshdeep Singh and fast bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya are set to engage in a fierce competition to claim the title of India's top wicket-taker in the T20I format. Additionally, they are both vying to become the first Indian cricketer to reach the 100-wicket milestone in T20Is. Currently, both Hardik and Arshdeep have amassed an impressive 87 wickets each in 105 and 56 T20I matches, respectively.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: 

This marks the inaugural occasion where South Africa will have the opportunity to field seven out of the eleven players who participated in the T20 World Cup final. The absentees include Kagiso Rabada, who is currently on rest, the retired Quinton de Kock, and Tabraiz Shamsi and Anrich Nortje, who were not chosen for selection.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: 

As the Indian cricket team undergoes a significant transition phase, a group of emerging stars including Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are eager to make their mark in the upcoming four T20Is against South Africa. It is crucial for these players to move beyond their current roles as supporting players and solidify their positions as key contributors in this format.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: Predicted playing XIs

South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram (capt), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Nqaba Peter, Ottneil Baartman.

India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I LIVE Score: Hello and Welcome!

Welcome to our live blog covering the first match of the four-match T20I series between India and South Africa.