India captain KL Rahul stated that his team needed to be more focused in crucial situations, although he believed the toss was a major factor in the home team’s four-wicket defeat to South Africa in Tuesday’s second ODI in Raipur.
Asked to bat first, India piled up a commanding 358/5, powered by centuries from Virat Kohli (102 off 93) — his 53rd ODI ton — and Ruturaj Gaikwad (105 off 83), who brought up his maiden hundred in the format.
However, South Africa finished at 362/6 in 49.2 overs with to a brilliant century from Aiden Markram (110) and fifties from Matthew Breetzke (68) and Dewald Brevis (54).
“Not really a (tough one to swallow) given how much dew there is and how difficult it is to bowl in the second innings,” Rahul said at the post-match presentation after losing the toss for the second straight game.
“Thought we did well in the last game. Today the umpires were nice to change the ball. Toss plays a big role so I’m kicking myself (laughs).”
India lost their 20th consecutive toss in ODIs on Wednesday in a stunning continuance of their dismal luck with the coin flip that has mystified the team and bemused fans.
In an attempt to break a run that began with India’s 50-over captain, Rohit Sharma, at the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad, stand-in captain KL Rahul flipped the coin in Raipur.
When the coin fell in the middle of the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium pitch, luck favoured the rival captain once more. South Africa captain Temba Bavuma called ‘heads’ correctly and chose to field first.
Statistics estimate the odds of losing 20 tosses on the trot are one in 1,048,576. Rahul, the wicketkeeper-batter commanding the team in the absence of injured captain Shubman Gill, managed to make a joke about it despite the sour look that said it all.
“Honestly, this is the most pressure I’ve had because we haven’t won the toss in a long time. So I’ve been practising, but clearly it is not working,” he said.
Rahul agreed there were areas where India might have done better.
“With the bat, I know that 350 looks good, but that has been the chat in the dressing room even after the last game about how we can get the extra 20-25 runs to give bowlers a cushion with the wet ball,” he said.
Kohli and Gaikwad were also lauded by the India skipper for their top-order hundreds.
“It was beautiful to watch Rutu and the way he batted. Virat, we have seen him do it 55 times, or 53. He just goes about doing his job. It was beautiful watching Rutu bat, the way he picked up the tempo after reaching his fifty.”
Temba Bavuma, the captain of South Africa, was thrilled that the pursuit was their best run chase in ODIs against India.
“Happy to have crossed the line. Coming into this game we were all thinking how can we get better with the ball. There were partnerships at the top, better showing from us, unbelievable game, record chase and it shows how well we have to play against this Indian side,” Bavuma said.
“I tried to build a partnership with Aiden, try to take the game deep and it was all about the partnerships. The ploy to send Brevis early went in our favour. We can take a lot of confidence with this win.”
The team is progressing because of the fierce fight for spots, he continued.
“The guys who are here are the best, there is a high level of competition for positions, the batters know they have to be at their best. Performances like these do good for our confidence.”
