India vs South Africa: India fail to defend 200-plus target for the first time in T20I cricket

India vs South Africa: India have scored in excess of 200 runs 12 times while batting first in T20I cricket, but they failed to defend a 200-plus total for the first time on Thursday.

Rishabh Pant had a forgettable night on his debut as India's T20I captain as the former world champions failed to defend a 200-plus total for the first time in their history on Thursday. After posting 211 on the board in 20 overs, India lost the first of a 5-match T20i series to South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

Therefore, Rishabh Pant became the first India captain to fail to defend a 200-plus target in men's T20I. The Asian giants have scored an excess of 200 runs after batting first in T20Is 12 times, which includes the Yuvraj Singh blitz in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup. The last time before Thursday, India posted in excess of 200 was the T20 World Cup match against Afghanistan last year wherein they won by 66 runs.

However, on Thursday, India failed to defend 211 on a good batting pitch in New Delhi. Riding on Ishan Kishan's 76 and late cameos from captain Pant and Hardik Pandya, India posted their highest total against South Africa in T20I cricket but it was not enough for the hosts.

IND vs SA, 1st T20I: Highlights

South Africa rode on a stunning blitz from David Miller 31-ball 64 not out and a late charge from Rassie van der Dussen as the duo stitched a 131-run unbeaten stand for the 4th wicket. South Africa eventually chased down the target in just 19.1 overs to go 1-0 up in the 5-match series. The partnership was also the highest against India in India in T20I cricket.

Notably, South Africa scored 126 runs in the last 10 overs, scripting a new world record for the most runs chased in the second half of a chase in T20I cricket. With the defeat, India's bid to script a new world record for the most successive wins in the shortest format of the game was spoiled as their 12-match winning run came to an end.

India missed out on a golden opportunity to dismiss van der Dussen, who was struggling to get going in the first half of his innings. Shreyas Iyer dropped the South Africa batter when he was on 29 from 30 deliveries. Making the most of the reprieve, van der Dussen scored 45 runs off the next 15 deliveries to help South Africa seal a stunning victory.