Dispirited India look to bounce back in second ODI against South Africa
India will look to bounce back in the second One-Dayer against South Africa in Indore on Tuesday, following a botched up run-chase in the opening game and a dispiriting 0-2 series defeat in the preceding Twenty20 series.
“Things like this can happen but there are no excuses,” in-form India batsman Rohit Sharma told a news conference on the eve of the match. “If we want to be the number one team, we cannot commit these kinds of mistakes,” added the opener who has scored centuries in the first T20 I and the opening ODI.
“I hope we won't keep repeating the same mistakes: that's what a champion side doesn't do. We all are mature enough to go handle such situations.”
India allowed AB de Villiers-propelled visitors to plunder over a 100 runs in the final 10 overs, that saw them post a challenging target of 304, and buckled under pressure at the business end of the chase after Sharma’s 150 had almost assured them of victory.
“It's (death bowling) a concern, there is no doubt about it. We cannot run away from that, but when you are bowling to a player like de Villiers you need to be extra smart, and be more proactive,” said Sharma.
“It's a concern but all the bowlers are working on it. In the last few games, not only against South Africa, but in Bangladesh and Australia as well, we made small, small mistakes in the last five overs,” Sharma added.
Ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin could only bowl four overs after sustaining an injury at a crucial junction of the match, and Harbhajan Singh has been called up as cover for the next two ODIs.
The pressure is mounting on limited-overs skipper Mahendra Dhoni, after the once-dreaded finisher failed to knock off the 11 runs required for victory off the last over, bowled by rookie quick Kagiso Rabada.
India’s most decorated captain’s leadership abilities has also come under the scanner following the ODI series defeat in Bangladesh and the T20 series against the tourists.
The match will start at 13:30 IST.
The squads:
India: MS Dhoni (captain), R Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Gurkeerat Singh, Amit Mishra, Harbhajan Singh.
South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw and Dale Steyn.