After losing the Test series, the ignominy of a 0-3 defeat in the ODIs was the last thing Team India required. But that embarrassment could not be avoided.
Even four changes in their XI for Sunday’s inconsequential third and final ODI at Newlands in Cape Town couldn’t provide India with a solution, as they lost a thriller of a game by four runs, which meant a clean sweep for South Africa.
Deepak Chahar, who came in as a replacement for the woefully out-of-form Bhuvneshwar Kumar, as India also effected three other changes in their XI, made a valiant attempt (54 off 34 balls) to guide India to a consolation win after South Africa posted a challenging total of 287. Thanks to Chahar’s clean hits and his 55-run eighth-wicket stand with Jasprit Bumrah, India needed only 10 off the last three overs with three wickets in hand.
The equation was quite easy, but Chahar became a bit too over-ambitious and a loose shot cost him his wicket. That eventually cost India the match too as they were all out for 283 with four balls remaining.
Around this time last month and particularly after India’s handsome win in the first Test in Centurion, hardly anyone would have thought of the tour to end in this fashion for the visitors. But they have got themselves to blame, largely because of their poor batting in the Test leg, while ineptness of the middle order and selection issues made them pay the price for the outcome in the ODIs. Even the top-order batsmen failed to convert their starts into big ones in all the three ODIs.
Head coach Rahul Dravid should perhaps talk to Rishabh Pant again and explain him what intent actually means. For sure, his reckless shot in this game off the very first ball he faced, just as he did in the second innings in the Johannesburg Test, was also one reason behind India’s loss.
The Proteas, though, will not be complaining at all. After Keegan Petersen, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada contributed in their stunning Test series victory, Rassie van der Dussen, captain Temba Bavuma, a fresher Quinton de Kock, and spinners Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi turned out to be the architects of their 3-0 sweep in the ODIs.
On Sunday, after being put in to bat and losing three wickets for only 70, De Kock (124) and Van der Dussen (52) laid the platform even though the Proteas lost their last seven wickets for only 73. In reply, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli took India to a strong position, but again failed to carry on.
As for Kohli, he was again foxed by Maharaj, being dismissed by spinners on all three occasions in this series.
