South Africa have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against India. They won the first ODI match on Wednesday (January 19) by 31 runs after defending their total of 296/4 comfortably.
India could only score 265/8 in 50 overs as they lost wickets in cluster in the second-half of the run-chase. The visitors were 138/1 when Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed after scoring 79 runs.
From 138/1, India found themselves struggling at 188/6. South Africa capitalized on the advantage and didn't allow the visitors to make a comeback, although Shardul Thakur did contribute in the lower-order with an unbeaten 50, which was not enough.
Former captain Sunil Gavaskar questioned India's stand-in captain KL Rahul's tactics in the first ODI. He was surprised by Rahul's decision to not use all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer as a bowling option.
India used only five bowlers and even Rahul mentioned after the match that lack of wickets in the middle-overs was one of the reasons behind their defeat.
“Only the captain has the answer as to why Venkatesh wasn’t bowled even once. He is a new player who has just made a name for himself in the last 4-5 months. That is why he is in the Indian team. But oppositions don’t know much about him. And when such a scenario arises, giving a couple of overs will allow the batters to know him,” Gavaskar said on Sports Tak.
“And sometimes, that rhythm with which the batters are playing can also break. Had he given an over, something else could have happened. He could have given away 20-25 runs but at least it would have been something different.”
India batter Shikhar Dhawan, in the press conference, said that Indian spinners were bowling well which made Rahul not use Venkatesh, despite being available as the bowling option. However, Yuzvendra Chahal and R Ashwin didn't have impressive figures between them as they managed only 1 wicket and gave away 106 runs in 20 overs.
"I can't understand. Whenever a partnership is flourishing, a bowler whom the opposition hasn't ever faced could be a good choice. Something similar happened with Shivam Dube. He too did not get the chances and encouragement that he should have. What is the reason behind it is something that might be answered in the press conference? What planning, what strategy was it that you didn’t even give him a single over," Gavaskar pointed out.
(With Sports Tak Inputs)
