Kohli, Gaikwad Hundreds In Vain As India’s Death-Overs Struggle Costs Them 2nd ODI
In a high-scoring thriller at Raipur, India posted a massive total of 358/5, thanks to centuries by Virat Kohli (102) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (105) yet still ended up on the losing side after South Africa chased down 359 with four balls to spare.
At first glance, India’s 359-run target looked imposing, but as the match unfolded it became increasingly clear that the hosts had left too many runs “on the table.” Their inability to accelerate meaningfully in the final 10-12 overs denied them a buffer, a lapse that proved costly.
After Gaikwad was dismissed, Kohli attempted to push the innings forward, but a string of dot balls and conservative approach at the death restricted the late-overs surge. While interim captain KL Rahul contributed a useful 66 off 43 balls down the order, the lack of support from the lower middle order proved a glaring weakness.
In contrast, South Africa displayed remarkable composure and urgency. Aiden Markram anchored the chase with a fluent 110, while aggressive knocks from Matthew Breetzke (68) and Dewald Brevis (54) ensured momentum was maintained through the middle overs in an area where India faltered.
The turning point came in the last 10 overs. With the pitch easing and dew setting in, South Africa’s hitters backed themselves to finish and they did so with clinical efficiency. The visitors reached the target with four balls remaining, sealing a dramatic win and leveling the series 1-1.
India’s bowling faded under pressure and dew; their plans unravelled against aggressive batting. But the root cause remains clear: their batting innings lacked that finishing firepower. Even with two centuries and a big total on board, they failed to extract maximum value. Instead of 390-plus, they settled for 358, leaving 30-40 runs extra that could have proved crucial.
Post-match, captain KL Rahul admitted that losing the toss and bowling first “played a huge part.” Still, the collapse was more about missed chances than conditions or opposition brilliance. For a side chasing dominance, not just in runs but in execution under pressure, this result exposes a structural flaw. They can hit big, but can they finish big?
As the series heads into the decider in Visakhapatnam, India will have to address this recurring “finisher gap.” For all the talent and firepower at their disposal, if they don’t learn to close innings effectively, match-winning totals may continue to slip away.
At first glance, India’s 359-run target looked imposing, but as the match unfolded it became increasingly clear that the hosts had left too many runs “on the table.” Their inability to accelerate meaningfully in the final 10-12 overs denied them a buffer, a lapse that proved costly.
After Gaikwad was dismissed, Kohli attempted to push the innings forward, but a string of dot balls and conservative approach at the death restricted the late-overs surge. While interim captain KL Rahul contributed a useful 66 off 43 balls down the order, the lack of support from the lower middle order proved a glaring weakness.
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In contrast, South Africa displayed remarkable composure and urgency. Aiden Markram anchored the chase with a fluent 110, while aggressive knocks from Matthew Breetzke (68) and Dewald Brevis (54) ensured momentum was maintained through the middle overs in an area where India faltered.
The turning point came in the last 10 overs. With the pitch easing and dew setting in, South Africa’s hitters backed themselves to finish and they did so with clinical efficiency. The visitors reached the target with four balls remaining, sealing a dramatic win and leveling the series 1-1.
India’s bowling faded under pressure and dew; their plans unravelled against aggressive batting. But the root cause remains clear: their batting innings lacked that finishing firepower. Even with two centuries and a big total on board, they failed to extract maximum value. Instead of 390-plus, they settled for 358, leaving 30-40 runs extra that could have proved crucial.
Post-match, captain KL Rahul admitted that losing the toss and bowling first “played a huge part.” Still, the collapse was more about missed chances than conditions or opposition brilliance. For a side chasing dominance, not just in runs but in execution under pressure, this result exposes a structural flaw. They can hit big, but can they finish big?
As the series heads into the decider in Visakhapatnam, India will have to address this recurring “finisher gap.” For all the talent and firepower at their disposal, if they don’t learn to close innings effectively, match-winning totals may continue to slip away.
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