Rahul Reflects on Missed Chances After India’s Defeat
India avoided defeat in Ranchi, but in Raipur the story unfolded differently. Despite scoring more than they did in the previous ODI, the hosts fell short in Chhattisgarh’s capital on December 3 (Wednesday), allowing South Africa to level the series 1–1 and set up a winner-takes-all clash in Visakhapatnam.
Indian captain KL Rahul expressed disappointment during the post-match presentation, admitting that several controllable factors went against his side. “I’m kicking myself about losing two tosses in a row. There’s always things that we could have done better,” he said. Rahul emphasised that India conceded “soft runs” in the field and stressed the need to sharpen all three departments of the game. According to him, fine-tuning those areas might have saved India the crucial “20–25 runs” that made the difference.
Rahul also highlighted the importance of contributions from the lower order, noting that a few extra boundaries down the order could have lifted the team to a more competitive total.
Markram, Bavuma Praise South Africa’s Composed Chase
South Africa’s vice-captain Aiden Markram, who scored a match-winning century and earned the Player of the Match award, spoke about converting his start—something he missed out on in Ranchi. He explained that the Raipur pitch offered more pace and swing under lights, making it important to settle in before accelerating.
Stand-in captain Temba Bavuma, who returned for the second ODI after missing the first, was pleased with the team’s improvements. He credited the top order for setting the tone and praised the partnerships built by Markram, Breetzke, and Bosch. Bavuma noted that South Africa showed better finishing and described the contest as an “unbelievable game.”
With the series now tied at 1–1, both teams head to Visakhapatnam for a high-stakes decider that promises a thrilling conclusion to the three-match ODI series.
