India lost the first ODI under stand-in captain KL Rahul by 31 runs against South Africa.
Unlike the recently concluded Test series in South Africa, India started the ODI series with a loss in Paarl on Wednesday (January 19). They were defeated by 31 runs after South Africa restricted them on 265/8 in a run-chase of 297 runs.
Apart from a poor display of batting by the Indian middle-order batters, the Indian spinners were outbowled by the South Africans. While R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal picked only 1 wicket together, Tabraiz Shamsi, Keshav Maharaj, and part-timer Aiden Markram took four wickets and conceded only 124 runs in 26 overs.
South African batters, Temba Bavuma (110) and Rassie van der Dussen (129*) rebuilt the innings in the middle-overs and put up a partnership of 204 runs after losing 3 wickets for 68 runs.
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Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir spoke on the Indian bowling attack and also added that KL Rahul should have done little more attacking with his captaincy.
“I don't think so (that Indian bowlers were poor). Sometimes, you have to give credit to the batsmen as well. Temba Bavuma is in great form, he played brilliantly in the Test series and carried the momentum forward in ODIs,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.
“But one thing I would've wanted to see is attacking fielding placements. I expected a slip, gully, and gully point for Yuzvendra Chahal after Aiden Markram was dismissed. When Ashwin came in to bowl, you could've put a leg slip or short-leg in place. You don't want to necessarily get the batsmen out; the point is that the bowler will only bowl according to the field set for him.”
Gambhir lauded Bavuma for his batting efforts and said that he glues the South African batting line-up with his role. “But I won't take anything away from Temba Bavuma. This is also his role in the batting lineup.
"If you look at their batting, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller.. all believe in the power game. So you need a batsman to glues the batting lineup and plays as an anchor and Bavuma did that. He played his role brilliantly,” he added.
(With Star Sports Inputs)