A ‘middle muddle’ cost India the 1st ODI against South Africa. In fact, at the halfway mark, India were very much in the game, with their scorecard reading 137/1, chasing a target of 297. The experienced pros, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli were going through the motions with ease, and had set up the chase nicely for the Indian middle order to take it forward.

However, the wicket of Dhawan changed the complexion of the game, as the middle order failed to step up. From 137/1, India slipped to 214/8, as the Proteas dominated the visitors after the halfway mark. Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, and Ravichandran Ashwin could not cross the 20-run mark, and India fell 31 runs short of the Protean total.

On the other hand, the South African side will be upbeat and confident going into the second rubber. The Proteas were rocked early in their innings and were reduced to 68/3. However, Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen came together and put on a match-defining partnership of 204 runs for the 4th wicket, with both the batters scoring hundreds.

Even the Proteas’ bowling attack fired, as 5 out of the 6 bowlers used by South Africa scalped at least one wicket apiece, and none of the bowlers leaked runs at an economy rate of over 7 runs per over. So, India find themselves with their backs against the wall, as a loss in the 2nd ODI will mean that the visitors will surrender the series. On the other hand, the Proteas will look to continue from where they left off in the 1st rubber and seal the deal.

As we saw in the 1st ODI, the pitch will surely aid stroke-making. There will be a bit of help for the pacers in the early part of the innings, and the ball will nip around. The team batting first has won 5 out of the last 7 completed matches at this venue, and that should give an indication of what the captain winning the toss might want to do.

Watch out. #SAvIND #India #SouthAfrica

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Virat Kohl.