Talking Points from the first ODI between India and South Africa

Despite late resilience from Shardul Thakur with the bat, India bowed down to South Africa in a run-fest that marked a poor start to the ODI series for the visitors after losing out on the Tests.

Kudos to the hosts that they turned the game around on its head twice from almost ineluctable situations where India were firmly placed in the driver’s seat.

South Africa rode high on a strong stand between Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma to post a monumental 296 on the board. The Indian bowlers lacked heavily in complexion with Jasprit Bumrah once again returning the best figures.

India were off to an absolute blinder, thanks to Shikhar Dhawan who was back in form despite taking the field after a long hiatus. KL Rahul’s cheap dismissal couldn’t deal the deafening blow to the Indian aspirations as Kohli comfortably steered the ship with the Delhi opener.

However, once this pair of Dhawan and Kohli was dismantled, the Indian batting order came unglued with some unnecessary advances. Shardul Thakur managed to strike a few late blows that didn’t really help India’s cause but was crucial in forging a 51-run partnership for the ninth wicket.

Let us quickly take a look at the talking points that defined the complexion of the game:

1.    Bavuma and Van der Dussen’s double-century stand

India seemed well in control as they reduced South Africa to a paltry 68 for 3 with the bowlers roaring out loud. However, with the third wicket falling early, there was a sense of complacency that slowly crept in and the visitors allowed South Africa to walk away briskly from the mouth of the immediate menace that lurked close. Initially, the duo weathered the Indian fast bowling storm and then started settling in comfortably that saw India’s grip loosening on the game. There was absolutely no brashness whatsoever and van der Dussen brought out the big guns frequently to keep the scorecard moving. The Indian bowlers were generous enough to offer easy pickings to the duo and aggravate the vortex that they were slowly getting ensnared in. The partnership garnered 204 runs before Bumrah got the better of Bavumba.

2.    Bumrah’s Spell

India’s bowling in the shorter formats has been questioned repeatedly. Despite the surface being a paradise for the spinners, the Indian spinning duo of Ashwin and Chahal was nowhere close to their best and seemed downright ordinary in a typical dust bowl. Shardul Thakur was peppered to the ropes mercilessly and he seemed completely out of his element with the cherry in his arms. Bhuvneshwar Kumar started the game on a decent note but shortly ebbed away to oblivion as van der Dussen dealt with the medium-fast expert comfortably. Bumrah, as usual, was the brightest star in the Indian firmament of fast bowlers as he kept things tight, scalped the big fish of Temba Bavuma with a mix of pace and was the best of the lot.

3.    Shikhar Dhawan’s effortless 79

Dhawan was back to the international arcade after a while with his last rodeo being against Sri Lanka mid-year in 2021. However, he never seemed to be in discomfort as he effortlessly played his strokes and racked up runs at free will with the South African bowlers having a hard time. The most important aspect of his innings was the calm that he displayed. He seemed to be in total control and belted out a few beautiful shots that had experience written all over it. He stitched together a fine knock of 79 and also played an important partnership with Virat Kohli of 98 runs before falling to Keshav Maharaj’s ripper.

4.    Virat Kohli’s fighting 51

The former Indian captain played a few stellar strokes to help India nestle in a cruising position. Till the time, Kohli was in there, the situation seemed well under control for the hosts. However, his departure didn’t augur well for India’s chase. There was some sharp turn from Shamsi that caught Kohli’s bottom edge while trying to sweep and Bavumba pouched a comfortable catch. Till then he exhibited exemplary fitness, ran a lot between the wickets and played three gorgeous-looking strokes to outclass the Proteas.

5.    Shardul Thakur’s resilient half-century

Shardul Thakur belted out a few rollicking strikes that kept the South Africans on their toe as he threatened to put India back in the hunt even with two overs remaining. He smashed the spinners around comfortably that was also laced with a couple of decent boundaries against the fast bowlers. He produced a painstaking half-century at the end that went in vain as the Indian middle-order could hardly produce anything significant after Kohli took the long walk. Shreyas Iyer seemed to be growing in confidence when he threw his wicket away while Pant’s aggression cost him his valuable scalp. Venkatesh Iyer came into the fold when the asking rate was high and in an attempt to play it big, he threw away his wicket too for cheap. The tail couldn’t add much that would have allowed Shardul Thakur to get a hold on the proceedings.