Team India captain Rishabh Pant has pinned the blame on the ineffective and inconsistent bowling for his side's defeat in the first T20I against South Africa at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday. Rishabh Pant had no qualms about conceding that the hosts were totally outplayed in the match with the ruthless Proteas completing their highest run chase against the Indian cricket team.

After posting a mammoth 2011/4 on the board, thanks to a whirlwind 76 off 48 balls from opener Ishan Kishan and a little cameo of 31 not out from Hardik Pandya, India looked good to claim a world record 13th T20I win in a row.

But the South Africans, especially Dwaine Pretorius, Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller had other ideas.

The trio took the Indian bowlers to the cleaners as they walloped the ball towards the boundary line with alarming regularity before completing a sensational seven-wicket victory for South Africa with five balls to spare.

After the Temba Bavuma-led side lost their openers early, it was Dwaine Pretorius who came to their rescue as his counter-attack left the Indian bowlers in a quandary.

Though Dwaine Pretorius didn't last too long, departing for a quickfire 29 off 13 balls, he had done his job by then as he had already dented the confidence of the Indian cricket team's bowlers.

After Dwaine Pretorius left, Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller took centre-stage and showed the world what they were capable of.

The pair were involved in a 131-run unbroken stand which started after Quinton de Kock perished for 22 in the ninth over of the second innings with the South African score reading 81/3.

However, what happened after that was absolute carnage as Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller blitzkrieg steamrolled the Indians in no time whatsoever. While Rassie van der Dussen hammered an unbeaten 75 off 46 balls, David Miller followed him with an equally impressive 64 not out off 31 deliveries.

After the match, Indian cricket team captain Rishabh Pant acknowledged that his bowlers were not up to the mark, blasting them for letting the side down with their below-par performance.

Rishabh Pant claimed that the Team India bowlers, both pacers and spinners failed in executing their plans and that's why the home team went 0-1 down in the five-match series against South Africa.

“I think we had enough on the board but were off with our execution, but credit to the opposition. We thought the slower one was working when we were batting but it became easier in the second innings,” Pant said during the post-match presentation ceremony.

Meanwhile, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma was elated with his team's display in Delhi, with David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen coming in for special praise from him.

“We are happy of our performance. We expected the wicket to getter as the night wears on. There are areas we can improve on. I think the way Ishan batted, he made it look easy. He put our spinners under pressure. That was a proper batting display,” Temba Bavuma told Star Sports.

“David carried his form, properly supported by Rassie. It was a good wicket, probably reading the situation better and (corrections needed) going to the death options earlier and taking away the boundary balls. We have a lot of belief on Rassie. He takes it slowly and takes it on at the end. He is the guy who sees us through. With David, makes it very explosive. It was hot but wasn't as humid. There's a quick turnaround so boys will have to be hydrated,” the Proteas captain added.

David Miller was adjudged the Man of the Match for his brilliant knock of 64* off 31 balls.

Miller who was part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) winning franchise Gujarat Titans said that it was the confidence he gained during the elite T20 competition where he finished numerous games for his team, that helped him in doing the same for South Africa.

“I think it's a lot of hard work, have been understanding my game a lot better in the last four-five years. Rassie played phenomenally well at the back end. Just try and hang in there. I was going to keep going and Rassie was to pierce the gap or find a boundary. It was about reducing the dot balls. It's belief,” Miller said.

“I have been around for some time now but understanding and winning games give you a lot more confidence. Wherever I bat, I have always wanted to make a difference. No. 5 happens to be the place now. I have done well at No. 4 in domestic but South Africa is a different story with world-class players. Happy to bat wherever,” David Miller concluded.