need strategic strength
For South Africa, where Bavuma and Dussen strengthened the team by adopting a single-double strategy after the fall of three wickets early, India’s middle-order batsmen Pant, Shreyas and Venkatesh failed completely in this matter. Even more than this, when India’s batting started, the South African captain got his part-time bowler Aiden Markram to start the bowling. He also got success in this and got the wicket of captain Lokesh Rahul early.
KL Rahul’s ordeal
Virat Kohli left the captaincy of the Indian team soon after the Test series against South Africa. Many names are currently being discussed for his successor, in which one name is also of Lokesh Rahul. Rahul has been given the captaincy of the Indian team in the current three-match ODI series against South Africa in place of unfit Rohit Sharma. This series is like an opportunity for Rahul to stake claim on the captaincy of the Test team. But, he failed completely in the first match of the series on Wednesday where the team suffered a humiliating defeat.
Middle-order failure continues
Opener Shikhar Dhawan, who is returning to the team after a long time, has impressed with his performance. But, the weakness of the Indian team’s middle order came to the fore once again. In the last match, as long as Shikhar and Virat Kohli were on the field, the Indian team remained in the match. As soon as these two got out, the team was completely shattered. However, since Virat was the captain, the performance of the middle order has remained a matter of concern for India. Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer, who went to play the first match, had a chance to win the team with their performance on the platform prepared by Shikhar-Virat but they disappointed. Especially the way Shreyas dodged the shot ball once again, it is justified to increase the concern of the team management.
…then why not the sun
After the performance of the last match, if we talk about the team combination for today’s match, then a question is bound to arise. That is why not Suryakumar Yadav in place of Venkatesh Iyer? This is because Venkatesh was included in the team as an all-rounder in the last match. But, Captain Rahul did not do so. When South African batsmen Temba Bavuma and Rasi van der Dussen were easily scoring runs on the Indian bowlers, it seemed that Venkatesh might be put at the front. But, this did not happen and along with the fast bowlers, the experienced spin pair of R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal also struggled to break this South African pair.
Suryakumar Yadav will get a chance?
Venkatesh was expected to do wonders with the bat but he disappointed when the team needed him the most. In such a situation, it is expected that today Suryakumar Yadav can get a chance in the playing XI. This is also because the Sun is experienced and performs well under pressure conditions.
Bumrah needs support
Now if we talk about bowling, only Jasprit Bumrah could impress in the last match. That too when he was playing in ODIs after more than a year. Bhuvneshwar Kumar failed to put pressure on the batsmen from the other end with the new ball with him. The third pacer, Shardul Thakur, disappointed the most as he conceded 72 runs in his quota of 10 overs. As far as the spinners are concerned, the pair of Ashwin and Chahal could not stop Bavuma and Dussen from taking a single-double, which the team had to bear the brunt.
.