India v South Africa: 5 turning points of the 1st ODI
It seems that the days of the 1990s back in Indian team when Indian bowlers used to lose the match in the last over. In that phase, Sachin Tendulkar’s 14 centuries had gone in vain as Indian bowlers were too much generous. So, even after Sachin retirement Indian cricket is yet to recover from that hangover. Rohit Sharma scored two centuries against South Africa and both have gone in vain in this home series. Today, the Indian bowlers conceded 110 runs in last 10 overs. But, the clamour is that M S Dhoni totally messed up with team selection and while chasing the target he fell in the last over to a young boy Kagiso Rabada. This match showed how could Indian team make thing complicated for them while visitor South Africa showed how much they are prepared for this series. They first won the Twenty 20 series 2-0, And now took the lead of the ODI series as well.
Here are 5 turning points of the match:
1) R.Ashwin’s injury
South Africa could have been restricted under 270 if off-spinner R. Ashwin did not pick up the injury while fielding off his own bowling during his fifth over. He conceded just 14 runs in 4.4 overs. He brought the first break through for India when South African opening pair Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla were posing a threat. But, Ashwin ended the threat. The difference was seen when Ashwin failed to come back in the match. Indian bowlers conceded 110 runs in the last 10 overs.
2) AB de Villiers 104* off 73 balls
Mr. 360 has been on a mission to teach Indian bowlers a lesson. He came in the 34th over of South Africa’s innings. South Africa’s predicted score was 250 before de Villiers came to the crease. In the 34th over AB de Villiers coming at no. 4 rattled the Indian bowling lineup. The only Indian bowler how could stop him was R. Ashwin. AB de Villiers manoeuvred South African innings and helped his team to reach 303 for 5. He hit 5 sixes and 6 boundaries. Alongside, De Villiers Farhaan Behardien also played a 35 off 19 balls cameo innings that built a 65 runs partnership with his captain.
3) Rohit Sharma 150
For one more time his century, which could be the match winning knock, has gone in vain. He played his part by playing 133 balls 150 with brutal, but sensible strokeplay. He hit 13 fours and 6 sixes. When he was taking South African bowlers hammer and tong, nobody expected India to lose the match. But, Rahane’s wicket in the 34th over opened the floodgates for South African bowlers. Virat Kohli, who generally bat at no.3, came at no. 4 and failed. Suresh Raina followed him. However, that did not stop Rohit playing big shots. But, as leg-spinner Imran Tahir caught him on his own bowling Indian lower order was exposed to South African bowlers. MS Dhoni and Stuart Binny were so much unfazed that they could not even put a finishing touch to a brilliant Sharma innings as they fell to Kagiso Rabada.
4) MS Dhoni
In the post-match press conference, I was waiting to confirm whether captain Dhoni would criticise Ajinkya Rahane, who played an 82 ball 60 runs innings at no 3. Instead Dhoni said, “it was a superb inning from Rahane”. But, he surprised everybody in the morning. On the eve of the match, he said that he was finding it difficult to find a place for Rahane in the team. So, everybody thought that Rayudu would start instead of Rahane. But, as the team news came; everybody was taken by surprise as he changed his words in the morning picking Rahane in the team and dropping Rayudu. He also opted for Stuart Binny and dropped Axar Patel. When, he came to bat, the ball was not connecting well to his bat. Dhoni, who in his career took great bowlers in the last overs to cleaners and win the match for India, bended his knee in front of a 20-year-old boy Kagiso Rabada. And subsequently awarded the series lead to our guest from Africa.
5) Kagiso Rabada
Indian bowlers, please learn a lesson from Kagiso Rabada, who had been considered as next Malcolm Marshall by his predecessor Allan Donald. South Africa captain AB de Villiers did not leave the final over for his bowling spearheads Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. But, asked rookie Kagiso Rabada, who also has raw pace and control over his length. De Villiers rested his belief on this young talent, and the Rabada paid him back by taking two wickets, including the wicket of MS Dhoni, who was known as the greatest finisher of all time. Bowling on Indian pitches, winning the match for the team, will obviously boost Rabada’s confidence in the series. South Africa’s much-famed bowling unit got another bright talent, who is proving to critics who has said that Indian pitches would not suit his bowling, wrong. Kagiso Rabada- well done!