In a thrilling contest in Raipur, South Africa chased down India’s daunting total of 358/5 with just four balls to spare, leveling the ODI series 1-1. Despite centuries from Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad, India found defending their total difficult, as the dew-soaked conditions heavily favored the team bowling first. Former India legend Sunil Gavaskar weighed in on the crucial role the toss played in the outcome, emphasizing how the wet ball and slippery outfield made it challenging for the bowlers to control proceedings.
Dew and Toss Impacted India’s Defending Strategy
India’s impressive total of 358/5, built around centuries from Kohli and Gaikwad, initially looked commanding. However, once the dew settled in during the second innings, defending the total became a daunting task. The wet conditions, with the outfield soaking up moisture, caused the ball to skid off unpredictably, leading to several misfields and missed opportunities for India.
Sunil Gavaskar, speaking on Jio Hotstar, was quick to highlight how the toss had a significant bearing on the match. “The wet outfield made it tough for the bowlers and fielders alike,” he stated. “The ball felt like a bar of soap, making it almost impossible to control. In Indian conditions, winning the toss and bowling first is often the key, as you avoid dealing with the dew when defending a total.”
KL Rahul Acknowledges Toss and Dew Factors
India’s captain, KL Rahul, openly admitted that the dew made defending their target far more challenging than they had anticipated. “It’s a tough one to swallow, given how much dew there is and how difficult it is to bowl in the second innings,” Rahul remarked, acknowledging his team’s struggles despite putting up a competitive score. He also pointed to India’s recent run of unfavourable tosses as a factor in their loss.
The Indian skipper also noted that while a total of 350+ is generally considered strong, they might have needed a little extra cushion to offset the conditions. “We could have added 20-25 more runs to give our bowlers a better chance in the second innings,” he added.
In the end, South Africa’s successful chase was led by Aiden Markram’s century and a composed performance from their middle order. Their calm approach, combined with the challenging conditions, exposed the difficulties India faced in defending their total.
As the series now stands at 1-1, all eyes will be on the next match to see if India can adapt to the conditions and overcome the toss dilemma.
