Handed a defeat in the first Twenty20 International, a determined India will look to plug the loopholes in bowling and bounce back in a must-win second T20 of the three-match series against South Africa here on Monday.
It’s an unfamiliar situation for India to start a home series on a losing note, and the manner of the defeat in Dharamsala would put the hosts under tremendous pressure, especially the bowlers.
Back after a break of three months, the onus would be on limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to bring the team out of the rut and ensure India get back to winning ways.
In the series opener, Rohit Sharma’s maiden T20I century in an entertaining stroke-play along with Virat Kohli’s 43 meant India could not have asked for more from their batsmen who posted their highest score of 199 against the South Africans.
Chasing a target of 200-odd runs, Hashim Amla (36) and AB de Villiers (51) laid the solid foundation before JP Duminy (68) and Farhaan Behardien (32) in an unbroken partnership of 105 saw the South Africans through with two balls to spare.
Duminy virtually won the battle in the 16th over when he smashed three successive sixes off Axar Patel’s bowling, snatching 22 runs in that over.
Ashwin was deceptively brilliant and got vicious turn as he looked dangerous. The offspinner also showed great control with de Villiers in full swing after completing his fifty.
Quick to notice that de Villiers was charging down the track, Ashwin cleverly bowled a slower one and the South African missed the line completely.
In de Villiers, South Africa has one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world and somebody who pushes any bowler into a panic-stricken mode with his 360-degree hitting range. His penchant for moving around the crease can unsettle any bowler and the key would be to bowl smart and with accuracy, like finding yorkers.
But the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Sreenath Aravind, who made his debut at Dharamsala, struggled to find the toe-crushing yorkers, a big weapon in T20 scheme of things.
After Patel’s poor 16th over, Bhuvneshwar conceded a six and a four in the first two balls of the penultimate over, giving the poor Aravind the improbable task of defending 10 runs in the last over.
India were racing towards a total of around 220 with Sharma and Kohli’s 138 partnership in 72 balls for the third wicket when the duo fell in space of two runs to Kyle Abott and South Africa managed to keep the hosts under 200.
Thereafter, India scored 41 runs in last five overs and Dhoni’s slide in strike rate over a period of time will be a cause of concern.
In bigger picture ahead of the World Twenty20 in India next year, the match in Dharamsala can be a reality check for the hosts who have not played much T20Is in recent past — four compared to South Africa’s 11 post World T20 in Bangladesh last year.
Match starts: 7 pm IST.
‘will come back all guns blazing’
Disappointed that his maiden T20I century went in vain, Indian opener Rohit Sharma said they would come back all guns blazing to stay alive in the three-match cricket series against South Africa.
Rohit’s 106 propelled India to 199/5 after being put into bat, but the the Faf du Plessis-led side romped home by seven wickets in Dharamsala to lead the series 1-0.
“It was a good knock but we lost the game. I am pretty disappointed, it was unfortunate. No matter how much you scored, if you don’t win, your efforts are not counted, nothing really matters to me.
“I’m sure we will come back strong. Overall, there’s a room for improvement, I’m sure the guys have learnt from it and they will come back stronger. We have to do a lot of things right whether it’s batting or bowling, and come out all guns blazing,” Rohit told mediapersons on the eve of their second T20I at Barabati Stadium.
Rohit said India opted for a three seam attack because of the green top but the dew took it away from them. “There was a little bit of grass covering on the wicket and we thought there would be a bit of more seam movement but the dew took it away.
“I know they’re not too experienced but it’s the same with the South African attack. But when you play these kind of tournaments, you grow as a cricketer,” he said.
“Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) has played quite a bit of late, Mohit has been a part of the team for a while now. (Sreenath) Aravind has just come in but he has been a proven character in domestic circuit.
“We cannot take credit away from seamers but the dew made it difficult. Overall, there’s a room for improvement, I’m sure the guys have learnt from it and they will come back stronger,” he added.
left-arm spinner Axar Patel conceded 22 runs in the 16th over to turn the tide for Proteas but Rohit backed their young bowlers.
“Our spinners are experienced enough, understood the line and length to bowl. We have to wait and see what the management thinks about how to go about it,” he said replying to a query whether three-spin attack is the way forward.
“These guys know what exactly is expected from them. I’m sure they are trying their best to come out (of the loss), take wickets and be aggressive. Sometimes, things don’t go your way. Dew made it difficult but don’t want to look it an excuse.”