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"You Learn A Lot" Playing In Tricky Conditions: Rohit Sharma After 1st T20I vs South Africa

India captain Rohit Sharma is happy that his team got to "learn a lot" in their eight-wicket victory over South Africa in a low-scoring chase on a "tricky track" in the first T20 International. Suryakumar Yadav's unbeaten 50 off 33 balls ensured that India didn't face too many hiccups despite KL Rahul's struggles on a track where South Africa were left tottering at 9/5 at the start of the game. "The wicket was tricky. You learn a lot playing such a game. You understand what the team needs to do in tough conditions. It was nice to play a game like that. We knew the bowlers will get something seeing grass on the pitch, but we didn't expected help for the full 20 overs," Rohit said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Watch: Suryakumar Yadav's Classy Six Off Anrich Nortje In Tough Chase In 1st India vs South Africa T20I

It was a night of many positives for Team India against South Africa in the first T20I on Wednesday in Thiruvananthapuram. First, Arshdeep Singh (3/32) and Deepak Chahar (2/24) rattled the opposition to reduce them to 9/5 in 2.3 overs. South Africa, however, recovered to post 106/8. India lost skipper Rohit Sharma for a duck and star batter Virat Kohli for 3 before the hosts achieved their target with 20 balls to spare and take a 1-0 lead.

India vs South Africa, 1st T20I: India rout South Africa on a spiteful track

And two young Indian pacers weren't complaining. Arshdeep Singh and Deepak Chahar, coming into the playing XI in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, proved they can be just as good, if not better than their senior pros with a brilliant exhibition of swing bowling to set up India's eight-wicket win over the Proteas on Wednesday night. SCORECARD | AS IT HAPPENEDThe 'English-like' conditions saw South Africa losing half the side even before the team total had reached double figures. The visitors couldn't recover from that abysmal start and ended up with 106 for eight in 20 overs. The Indian batsmen didn't have it easy in their chase either as long as Kagiso Rabada was in operation. He dismissed skipper Rohit Sharma for a duck as he troubled the batters with his pace and movement. When Anrich Nortje accounted for Virat Kohli, some jitters were felt. However, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav took their time to wear out the South African bowlers and chipped away at the paltry target with an unbroken partnership of 93 to take India home.

Rahul, Yadav fifties secure India's 8-wicket romp v S Africa

NEW DELHI: KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav smashed unbeaten fifties to lead India to an eight-wicket victory over South Africa in the opening Twenty20 International in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday (Sep 28).

India vs South Africa 1st T20I Highlights: Arshdeep, Chahar set it up as India win low-scoring opener by 8 wickets

Deepak Chahar hit the South Africans hard with some magical swing bowling before Suryakumar Yadav's little gem on a difficult track ensured an easy eight-wicket victory for India in the first T20 International on Wednesday. A target of 107 on a pitch with underlying moisture and more than waist high bounce at times was a struggle before Suryakumar (50 not out in 33 balls) released the pressure created by KL Rahul (51 not out, 56 balls) as India won the game in 16.4 overs to go 1-0 up in three-match series. Scorecard | As it happenedThe pitch that former India head coach Ravi Shastri on air termed "not ideal for T20 cricket" had batters of both teams finding it difficult to cope with both pace and movement. It was Arshdeep (3/32) and Chahar (2/24), who basically clinched the issue for India within the first 15 deliveries of the start after skipper Rohit Sharma called it right at the toss. Once South Africa were reeling at 9/5 in 2.3 overs, the game as a contest was over and 106/8 even on a difficult track was a sub-par score.

Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar Set It Up As India Win Low-scoring Game vs South Africa

Arshdeep Singh and Deepak Chahar hit the South Africans hard with some magical swing bowling before Suryakumar Yadav's little gem on a difficult track ensured an easy eight-wicket victory for India in the first T20 International in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. A target of 107 on a pitch with underlying moisture and more than waist high bounce at times was a struggle before Suryakumar (50 not out in 33 balls) released the pressure created by KL Rahul (51 not out, 56 balls) as India won the game in 16.4 overs to go 1-0 up in three-match series.

Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma rise in ICC T20I Player rankings

Suryakumar Yadav jumped a place to reach a career-best-equalling second position in the latest ICC men's T20I Player rankings issued on Wednesday. Suryakumar now has 801 rating points after smashing a match-winning 69 off 36 deliveries in the third match against Australia in Hyderabad on Sunday that helped India clinch the series 2-1. He had reached the second spot in T20 rankings for the first time in August this year following his exploits against the West Indies.

India vs South Africa: Shreyas Iyer, Shahbaz Ahmed And Umesh Yadav Added To Squad, Deepak Hooda Out With Injury

Shreyas Iyer, Shahbaz Ahmed and Umesh Yadav have been added to India squad for the three-match T20I series against South Africa, while Deepak Hooda has been ruled out with injury, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement on Wednesday. "Deepak Hooda is ruled out of the upcoming Mastercard South Africa Tour of India after sustaining a back injury. The all-rounder is at NCA for further management of his injury," the BCCI said in its statement.

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Rohit Sharma Sport News

"You Learn A Lot" Playing In Tricky Conditions: Rohit Sharma After 1st T20I vs South Africa

Watch: Suryakumar Yadav's Classy Six Off Anrich Nortje In Tough Chase In 1st India vs South Africa T20I

India vs South Africa, 1st T20I: India rout South Africa on a spiteful track

Rahul, Yadav fifties secure India's 8-wicket romp v S Africa

India vs South Africa 1st T20I Highlights: Arshdeep, Chahar set it up as India win low-scoring opener by 8 wickets

Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar Set It Up As India Win Low-scoring Game vs South Africa

Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma rise in ICC T20I Player rankings

India vs South Africa: Shreyas Iyer, Shahbaz Ahmed And Umesh Yadav Added To Squad, Deepak Hooda Out With Injury