5 reasons why India lost the Gandhi-Mandela ODI series
South Africa beat India 3-2 in the 5-match ODI series that concluded on SundayAs AB de Villiers and the South African team lifted the Freedom Trophy for the ODI series, there was a deathly silence among the Indians. In the past eight hours, they had been battered, crushed and steamrollered with chilling efficiency.After clawing back to level the series two times, the momentum was with India as they went into the 5th ODI. But South Africa put on a show of incredible power-hitting as they obliterated India’s bowling attack, scoring 438-4. With the pitch being flat as a board, the fans expected India to put up a high score, even if they couldn’t chase it down. But even those hopes were dispelled as the visitors bowled with venom, bowling India out for 224 in just 36 overs.MS Dhoni will have to answer a lot of questions in the coming days – his position in the batting order, Suresh Raina’s poor form, the toothless bowling of his seamers and the like. No doubt he will, with his usual straight-faced manner, but he knows he has a real problem on his hands.With the upcoming four-Test series, the focus shifts to Virat Kohli, who must take up the mantle of captaincy and use his limited resources to manage a series win. India’s woeful performance in the ODIs must not extend to the Test level or India will see themselves demolished in three days or less against the rampaging South Africans.Where did India go wrong in the ODI series? What could they have done better? Let’s look at 5 reasons why India lost the ODI series.
#1 Batting order shuffled too much
In the five ODI matches, the top 4 was changed no less than three times, the only constant being the openers. Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and MS Dhoni have shuffled themselves among the middle order, which has led to much confusion among the team, especially while running between the wickets. The Indian batsmen were involved in 6 run outs throughout the series, which shows that the batsmen are not yet used to their partners.
Without a stable middle order, the South African batsmen found it easy to curb the scoring rate and get more wickets in the middle period.
Shikhar Dhawan has shown none of his flair in the series, only scoring a scratchy fifty in the final match. He might pay for his poor form ahead of the Tests, with KL Rahul in contention for his opening spot. Rohit Sharma started the series with a century in the first match but fell off the wagon with low scores throughout.
While his teammates struggled to get the ball off the square, he batted with elegance and ease, often toying with the bowling. But once again, he showed that he was susceptible to playing loose shots and getting out against the run of play. India’s best opening partnership this series was only 42, which played a major role in their loss.
Rahane was perhaps India’s most consistent batsman with three fifties and a 45, but he too got out at crucial moments while trying to up the run rate while MS Dhoni’s inability to hit the big shots at the end of the innings was in full view. With the exception of his 92* in the second ODI, he has been nowhere near his best this series, and he must work towards getting back to form.