India have dismissed South Africa for their lowest T20 international score, bowling them out for 74 in a 101-run win that served both as a warning and an encouragement to Australia.
Both sides are in line to face Mitch Marsh's team in the second stage of the forthcoming T20 World Cup.
While Australia concentrate on retaining the Ashes to the extent they do not have any T20 fixtures arranged before the tournament begins in February, their key rivals are tuning up against each other.
Tuesday's opener in the five-match T20 series resulted in a stunning win for World Cup holders India in a repeat of the 2024 final.
Hardik Pandya marked his return after a two-month injury lay-off by smashing an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls in Cuttack as India racked up 6-175 after losing the toss.
South Africa lost Quinton de Kock second ball for a duck but revived to 2-40 before losing their last eight wickets for 34 to be all out in 12.3 overs. Only Dewald Brevis (22) passed 14.
Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel picked up two wickets each while Pandya dismissed the dangerous David Miller.
India had lost Shubman Gill (4) off the third ball of their innings and were 4-78 when Pandya came in in the 12th over. The allrounder hit four sixes and six fours with Tilak Varma (26) the next highest scorer. Lungi Ngidi took 3-31.
"I had to back my shots. I realised the wicket had a bit of spice. I had to be a bit gutsy," Pandya said.
"It was more about timing the ball, not breaking the ball. I was very satisfied with the way I was batting."
Australia have been paired with Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Oman in the first group stage of the 20-team World Cup, to be played in India and Sri Lanka, and should comfortably progress as one of the top two.
In the second stage places are pre-assigned based on seeding. That means, assuming they each qualify from their groups, Australia will then face India, South Africa and West Indies in the Super Eight with the top two advancing to the semi-finals.
