India’s stand-in skipper KL Rahul blamed the toss and dew after his team failed to defend a formidable total of 358 against South Africa in the second ODI in Raipur on Wednesday (December 3).

The Men in Blue lost their 20th consecutive toss in ODIs as Proteas opted to bowl first before securing a convincing four-wicket win with four deliveries remaining, leveling the series 1-1.

After the match, Rahul was asked if the defeat was a tough pill to swallow and he replied by stressing the importance of winning toss in games where heavy dew gives chasing teams a clear advantage.

“Not really, considering how much dew there is and how much difficult it is to bowl in the second innings. The umpires have been nice enough to change the ball a few times, but still toss plays a huge part. I'm kicking myself about losing two tosses in a row,” Rahul said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“There's always things that we could have done better. I know that 350 looks good, but that's also been the chat in the dressing room even after the last game - how can we get that extra 20-25 so that the bowlers find some cushion when they bowl with the wet ball. Bowlers, obviously, are trying their heart out, but there's areas to improve. We also gave away a few soft runs in the field. If we can tighten up all three aspects of the game and get a bit more sharper, then maybe those 20-25 runs will go our way,” he explained.

Virat Kohli lit up the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium with his 53rd ODI century and second consecutive in the ongoing series against South Africa. He followed up his dazzling 135 (120 balls) in the first ODI in Ranchi with a brilliant 102 (93 balls) in Raipur.

During his knock, Kohli added 195 runs for the third wicket with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who made 105 runs from 83 balls. Their tons propelled the hosts to 358/5 in 50 overs.

“It was beautiful to watch Rutu and the way he batted. Obviously, Virat, we've seen him do this for 53 times. He goes on about doing his job, we're used to seeing it. Just to see the way Rutu batted was beautiful. He took on the spinners, hit his gaps. Once he got past that 50, the tempo that he batted with is what gave us that extra 20 runs,” Rahul remarked.

Rahul scored an unbeaten 66 off 43 balls at No. 5, even though he was listed at No. 6 at the toss. Washington Sundar managed only 1 off 8, while Ravindra Jadeja faced 27 balls for an unbeaten 24.

“If the lower order could contribute a little bit more and hit a couple more boundaries, then maybe that's the 20 runs that we would have been happier,” Rahul stated.

“Today is the first time that I have been slotted at 6 and walked in at 5. Virat and Rutu had set the tempo. GG bhai and I felt it would be the right time for me to walk in and keep that tempo going. I had got a fifty in the last game, was feeling confident, so it was better to walk in at number 5,” he concluded.

The series-deciding third ODI will be held in Visakhapatnam on Saturday (December 6).

(With Cricbuzz Inputs)