362/6 (49.2)
CRR : 7.34
358/5 (50.0)
CRR : 7.16
South Africa won by 4 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Player
0/48110(98)
Distance award for longest six: Dewald Brevis
All-around performance on the field: Ruturaj Gaikwad
Striker of the Match: Ruturaj Gaikwad
Smart saver of the Match: Tilak Varma
KL Rahul (India Captain): "Umm, look. Not really. I think, considering everything how much dew there is and how difficult it is to bowl in the second innings. I think the last game, we did really well. The umpires have been nice enough to change the ball a few times, but I think the toss plays a huge part. I am kicking myself for losing toss twice in a row. It is obviously making a huge difference.
Yeah, win the toss (chuckles). Look, if you reflect back, there's always things we could have done better. With the bat, 350 looks good, but there is always a chat how we can get that extra 20-25, so the bowlers find some cushion when they bowl with the wet ball. Few soft boundaries we gave away, need to get a bit sharper and those 20-25 runs will go our way and we will be on the other side.
It was beautiful to watch. Rutu, the way he batted. Virat, we have seen him done 55, 52 times now. We are used to seeing it, just to see the way Rutu batted was beautiful. Took on the spinners, once he got past that 50, the tempo he batted with, gave us that extra 20 runs. Batting at 5,6,7 lower-order can contribute a bit more and hit a couple of more boundaries and that is the 20 extra we want.
No, not really. Today's the first time. I have been slotted at 6 and walked in at 5. The way Rutu and Virat's partnership was going. We felt, me and GG bhai felt it was the right time for me to walk in and got a fifty in the last game, so had that confidence and wanted to keep that temp going. Was a last minute decision, after 30-31 overs, we decided I should walk in."
Yeah, win the toss (chuckles). Look, if you reflect back, there's always things we could have done better. With the bat, 350 looks good, but there is always a chat how we can get that extra 20-25, so the bowlers find some cushion when they bowl with the wet ball. Few soft boundaries we gave away, need to get a bit sharper and those 20-25 runs will go our way and we will be on the other side.
It was beautiful to watch. Rutu, the way he batted. Virat, we have seen him done 55, 52 times now. We are used to seeing it, just to see the way Rutu batted was beautiful. Took on the spinners, once he got past that 50, the tempo he batted with, gave us that extra 20 runs. Batting at 5,6,7 lower-order can contribute a bit more and hit a couple of more boundaries and that is the 20 extra we want.
No, not really. Today's the first time. I have been slotted at 6 and walked in at 5. The way Rutu and Virat's partnership was going. We felt, me and GG bhai felt it was the right time for me to walk in and got a fifty in the last game, so had that confidence and wanted to keep that temp going. Was a last minute decision, after 30-31 overs, we decided I should walk in."
Temba Bavuma (South Africa's Skipper): "Happy to get over the line tonight. We came into this game wanting to improve with the ball, and there are still conversations to be had there. But with the bat, it was a much better showing - solid partnerships at the top, Aiden continuing his form, Brevis playing with great intent, and then the maturity shown at the back end to finish it off.
It was an unbelievable game, a record chase, and it shows how well we need to play against this Indian side. For me, it was about building a partnership with Aiden and trying to take the game deep. That’s not always the trend in modern cricket, but with a big chase like this, partnerships become key.
Sending Brevis earlier was part of the plan, and it worked in our favour. There’s a lot of confidence we’ll take from this win. The group here is our best available squad, and the competition for places is strong - the guys know they have to stay at their best. Performances like today help build belief and depth, both with the bat and ball.
Regarding Tony and Nandre - I’m not the medical guy, so I can’t say much. It doesn’t look great, but they’ll be assessed properly. If they’re unavailable, we have players ready to step in."
It was an unbelievable game, a record chase, and it shows how well we need to play against this Indian side. For me, it was about building a partnership with Aiden and trying to take the game deep. That’s not always the trend in modern cricket, but with a big chase like this, partnerships become key.
Sending Brevis earlier was part of the plan, and it worked in our favour. There’s a lot of confidence we’ll take from this win. The group here is our best available squad, and the competition for places is strong - the guys know they have to stay at their best. Performances like today help build belief and depth, both with the bat and ball.
Regarding Tony and Nandre - I’m not the medical guy, so I can’t say much. It doesn’t look great, but they’ll be assessed properly. If they’re unavailable, we have players ready to step in."
Player of the Match: Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram (POTM): "Yeah, I mean. You always take lessons from your previous game. Obviously, 3 down early, we expected it to swing early and be a challenge up front. You have to challenge and try to set the game up. We saw what our middle-order can do in the last game and I think, certainly from my side, I felt quite responsible that we came up short. You get some start, the result could have been different.
Very similar tonight, under lights. It had extra pace off the wicket, you have try to get in and then put some pressure.
Yeah, for can't remember the over stage. We (Bavuma and myself) felt like, we both were set and can play our shots. If one gets out, you build a new partnership with the new batter. That's what we did and once we got that partnership, we were settled and could make a move.
I am proud of the boys to get us over the line. It got a bit a tricky there. High-pressure moment, the boys got the job done. We have got 8 really good batters and then Kesh can do his thing. So, that helps. We want to play a brand where we can take the game on and you try to put bowlers under pressure. The boys have been putting their hands up for over a year, the top order is firing, set the game for them.
(On where he likes to bat) Hard to say. Everyone says, opening is going to be great because the field is up and pace on the ball. When it swings, it becomes a challenge. But, I am happy to bat wherever, few occasions up top and I think I will get used to that and probably fall in love with it again."
Very similar tonight, under lights. It had extra pace off the wicket, you have try to get in and then put some pressure.
Yeah, for can't remember the over stage. We (Bavuma and myself) felt like, we both were set and can play our shots. If one gets out, you build a new partnership with the new batter. That's what we did and once we got that partnership, we were settled and could make a move.
I am proud of the boys to get us over the line. It got a bit a tricky there. High-pressure moment, the boys got the job done. We have got 8 really good batters and then Kesh can do his thing. So, that helps. We want to play a brand where we can take the game on and you try to put bowlers under pressure. The boys have been putting their hands up for over a year, the top order is firing, set the game for them.
(On where he likes to bat) Hard to say. Everyone says, opening is going to be great because the field is up and pace on the ball. When it swings, it becomes a challenge. But, I am happy to bat wherever, few occasions up top and I think I will get used to that and probably fall in love with it again."
That is it from our live coverage of the second ODI between India and South Africa! Another high-scoring fixture, but this time, the tourists were not going to go down. The series is nicely set at 1-1 for the decider in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
For now, it is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator, Dev Rajawat, scorer Bishal Mandal and statistician Aman. We will meet again. Until then, it is cheers!
For now, it is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator, Dev Rajawat, scorer Bishal Mandal and statistician Aman. We will meet again. Until then, it is cheers!