South Africa v India 2018: Flops from the recently concluded T20I series
Feb 27, 2018 at 12:26 PM
An enthralling three-match T20I series between India and South Africa drew curtains on Saturday. India continued their dominance in limited overs cricket with the 2-1 win in the T20I leg of the tour.
The hosts were handed yet another series defeat at home post the 5-1 drubbing in the ODI series.
Here we look at some of the flops from the recently concluded series:
Rohit Sharma
India’s limited overs-giant, Rohit Sharma continued his dismal tour of South Africa even in the T20I leg. The majestic right-hander could only amass 32 runs at an average of just 10.6 in the series.
It was expected that the Hitman would come on his own, having the license to dominate up front in the shortest format of the game. Unfortunately, Dala made Rohit his bunny, utilizing his shortcomings in batting technique.
Yuzvendra Chahal
One half of the Indian wrist-spinning duo, Yuzvendra Chahal, had a breakthrough ODI series with 16 wickets to his name. But the wily leggie did not have a memorable T20I series.
In the first two matches of the series, Chahal conceded 109 runs at an exorbitant economy of 13.6. Furthermore, he had only one wicket to show for.
In the Centurion T20I, Chahal registered his name for the most expensive spell ever by an Indian in T20Is. He was also dropped in the final game of the series to accommodate Axar Patel in the side.
Jaydev Undakat
After an impressive series against Sri Lanka in December and all the IPL auction hype, much was expected out of the lanky speedster.
Unfortunately, Unadkat was on the expensive side in the first two games of the series, before Shardul Thakur replaced him in the final T20I.
In the two matches he played, he conceded 75 runs in 7.4 overs at an economy 9.78. Although, he had three wickets to show for, much more was expected out of the multi-million dollar man.
David Miller
Barring one knock at Jo’burg in the Pink ODI, Miller’s bat largely remained dormant throughout the limited-overs leg of the Indian tour. Killer Miller did not live up to his T20 reputation as he amassed only 38 runs in three outings of the series.
To make matters worse, he consumed way too many deliveries up front in the series finale for his 23-ball 24, which put the hosts on to the backfoot in the first 10 overs. Miller was one of the biggest flops of T20I series.
Dane Paterson
Paterson was one of the rare failures amongst the fresh faces in the T20I outfit for South Africa. Paterson conceded a whopping 99 runs in the first two games at an economy of 12.5 and had no wickets to show for.
Furthermore, Paterson’s speed, line and lengths fell right into the strengths of the Indian batsmen. He was later replaced by Phangiso in the final ODI.
JJ Smuts
Much like Jonker, Hendricks, and Klaasen, Smuts came into the side with a reputation of the being a domestic giant in the shortest version of the game. Unfortunately for Smuts, he could not capitalize on his starts in the first two matches of the series.
Smuts could not the middle of the bat against the Indian bowlers at Centurion. Smuts was one of the biggest flops from the T20I series.