Watch: Hardik Pandya and Jitesh Sharma smash Lutho Sipamla for 18-run over in IND vs SA 1st T20I

Hardik Pandya was in beast mode on his comeback to the national side during the first T20I between India and South Africa at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. He started with two successive sixes against the left-arm spinner, Keshav Maharaj, before Jitesh Sharma joined him in the middle. 

Jitesh got the chance in the eleven ahead of Sanju Samson. Hardik and Jitesh turned the momentum of the first innings during the 19th over of the innings of Lutho Sipamla. The second ball was thumped over the long-off region for a massive six by Hardik Pandya, who slapped the following delivery over the bowler’s head for a four.

See Also: Watch: Tilak Verma smashes Anrich Nortje six out of stadium during IND vs SA 1st T20I

The last ball was expected to be a free hit for the wicket-keeper batter, Jitesh, who had to keep Hardik on strike. And the right-handed batter swung his willow and pulled the short ball over the deep backward square leg for a six to earn 18 runs of the over.

Watch: Hardik Pandya and Jitesh Sharma hit Lutho Sipamla for 18 runs in IND vs SA 1st T20I

On the second ball of the last over, Hardik clubbed Anrich Nortje’s short ball over the third man region for a massive six to celebrate his fifty in just 25 balls before waiting for the slow delivery and thumping it over the mid-on region for a powerful boundary as the home side finished with 175/6 in their allotted 20 overs.

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In the second innings, the left-arm pacer of the Indian side, Arshdeep Singh, drew the first blood for the home side as Quinton de Kock, going for the flashing drive outside the off-stump, got a massive outside edge into the hands of the slip fielder for a two-ball duck. This was the fourth time the southpaw was dismissed by the Ahmedabad-born.

On his second over, the Punjab-born sent back Tristan Stubbs for a nine-ball 14-run knock as the Proteas reached 18/2 in three overs. The dew factors had started to get their effect as India needed to take those vital wickets in the middle overs.