India stand-in captain KL Rahul was disappointed as the Men in Blue lost the second ODI to South Africa in Gqeberha on Tuesday. With this win, the three-match series is level at 1-1 with the third match to be played on December 21 in Paarl.
India was asked to bat first by Aiden Markram and despite fifties by Sai Sudharshan and KL Rahul, the visitors could only post 211 runs on the board. Nandre Burger took three wickets while Keshav Maharaj and Beuran Hendricks took 2 wickets apiece.
South Africa’s chase was pretty smooth as Tony de Zorzi hammered his maiden ODI ton, scoring 119* with 6 sixes and 9 fours. The hosts reached the target with 8 wickets in hand and 45 balls remaining to level the series.
"Probably win the toss (on what he would like to change). There was a bit of help at the start (for bowlers). It was tough to bat on but a couple of us got set. Had we gone on, we could have gotten 50-60 runs extra and that would have made a difference.
When we batted, we thought even 240-250 would have been good. With a set batter, we might have gotten those runs. We lost wickets at crucial times,” KL Rahul said after the match.
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Rahul, who scored 56 off 64 balls, said role clarity and execution are key to success for any cricketer.
"Each individual's game plan and what they feel comfortable doing, as a team, you have to trust that. I have complete clarity and try to execute it. There is no right or wrong in cricket and you try to do the job for your team,” he added.
The skipper was disappointed in lapses in fielding as Reeza Hendricks was dropped by Ruturaj Gaikwad off Mukesh Kumar's bowling in the fifth over and he made 52 off 81 balls to add 130 runs for the opening wicket with De Zorzi.
"There was a bit of help in the first 10 overs. We beat the bat a lot. We could not hold on to one edge. Things might have been different had we held onto that. Not as much help as the first innings though (for bowlers)," he said.
(Star Sports inputs)
