IND vs SA 2. ODI: Rahul’s India wants to improve the batting show with online series

KL Rahul will have to improve his lead on Thursday when he leads India against a strong South African team in the second ODI, with a three-match series and his long-term test captain intentions at stake.

Rahul was mediocre in terms of “walking-thinking,” something that is fundamental among the captain, and also did not match the bat in a 31-knot deflationary failure in the initial ODI, where. India dominated the best part of the game.

The middle order, which has been a problem since the days of Virat Kohli’s clever captain, is still coming out like a sore thumb and no one knows exactly what the solution is.

Once again, it was the case of an opener – this time Shikhar Dhawan – and the invincible Kohli, who was holding on to the middle order, fell into a slower field where he was spinning and the ball hit him, running away. Andile Phehlukwayo mill looks wonderful for sealing.

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South Africa oppressed India strategically and in terms of skills, and in doing so raised serious questions about Rahul’s merchandise as a captain.

The main question was what was Venkatesh Iyer doing in the team, if not at least four or five balls as the sixth ball were being taken to cleaners Yuzvendra Chahal and Shardul Thakur by Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma?

If Venkatesh is playing as a No. 6 batting specialist, why not use Suryakumar Yadav, who has more experience in a better range of pressure blows?

The next question arose when Rahul spoke to Chahal or Ashwin when Van der Dussen and Bavuma started playing sweep shots – both a regular and reverse sweep in a good batting band.

There was no special-inspired bowling change unlike Proteas, as Aiden Markram’s break first came in and bottled the Indian skipper.

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When India were united, the game was lost in the middle phase, with Dhawan and Kohli quickly coming out on top in the 90th. Suddenly, a list that seemed easy to beat became difficult.

Shreyas Iyer’s well-documented fights against short balls were revealed again on the day and Mumbaikar would know that India’s XI place of play is coming soon.

But following Rahul Dravid’s pattern, he would get his chances.

On the slow track, where a turnaround is essential, Rishabh Pant and two Iyers will have to play a bigger role.

Similarly, Shardul Thakur, despite being in his fifties at the end of the match and despite the pressure of a goal, will have to measure up as his main skill ball.

Running 70 more with too many loose balls in his over-10 season did not help the team’s cause and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also looked unbeaten after his tour of Sri Lanka in the XI.

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The difference between the two sides was how the spinners came out: Ashwin and Chahal ran 106 runs for 20 wickets in a single wicket, and Markram, Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj threw 26 overs between them for 124 runs and four wickets. them.

“It was a kind of wicket that we return home to. It was not a typical South African wicket. There was a round (offer) in the wicket, and the ball was also kept straight, so it was not easy for the newcomer.

“The intention of the batting set was to take the depth, but unfortunately I turned the ball around a lot and I didn’t expect it, but that’s what happens,” he said.

Test captaincy is a different ball game compared to white ball cricket leadership, but Rahul knows full well that when it comes to making decisions, they will fall behind in the benchmarks of top officials.

And a series of failures against South Africa will be of no use to his case unless the coach tries to make him a leader.