KL Rahul had a simple explanation after India fell four wickets short in Gqeberha on Tuesday night: the coin. Asked to defend 358, his bowlers – armed with a bar of soap masquerading as a cricket ball once the dew settled – could not keep South Africa in check, and the series is now level at 1-1.
“Plays a huge part” and “making a huge difference” were the captain’s first words about the toss. India have now lost 20 on the bounce in one-day internationals, and Rahul did not hide his frustration: “So I’m kicking myself about losing two tosses in a row.”
The facts first: centuries from Virat Kohli (his 53rd in the format) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (his first) took India to 358 for 4. Kohli’s experience fused neatly with Gaikwad’s freedom in a 195-run stand that chewed up only 156 balls. Yet the final push never arrived. India harvested 103 in the last 15 overs despite eight wickets in hand; only 74 came from the final ten.
Rahul, carded at six but in at five, finished on 66 not out from 43 deliveries. Washington Sundar scratched 1 from eight balls and Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 24 used up 27 more. Those sluggish closing overs worried the skipper just as much as the dew.
“With the bat, I know that 350 looks good, but that’s also been the chat in the dressing room… how can we get that extra 20-25 runs, so that the bowlers find some cushion when they bowl with the wet ball,” he said. Later he added: “If the lower order could contribute a little bit more and hit a couple of more boundaries, then maybe that’s the 20 runs that we would have been happy with.”
South Africa chased calmly. Aiden Markram’s measured 96, backed by handy cameos down the order, meant only one Indian bowler – Mohammed Siraj – kept the run-rate below six across his full quota of ten overs. Everyone else slid around in their run-ups and leaked boundaries, several of them soft, a point Rahul acknowledged: “There are a few soft boundaries that we gave away, even in the field.”
Umpires swapped balls more than once – standard practice when the seam resembles a sponge – yet the change offered little grip. Rahul, half-smiling, half-grimacing, conceded: “The umpires have been nice enough to change the ball a few times, but still I think toss plays a huge part.”
That last remark may read like an excuse, but there is a kernel of truth. Under lights on South African coasts, moisture often drifts in after dusk. The white Kookaburra grows heavy, fielders fumble, bowlers struggle to impart any revs. Captains pray for a chase.
Still, India know solutions must come from within. “If we can tighten up all three aspects of the game and get a bit more sharper, then maybe those 20-25 runs will go our way and we’ll be on the other side,” Rahul said.
The series decider lands in Johannesburg on Saturday, altitude replacing humidity but the coin still looming large. India will hope the law of averages – or a lucky flick of the thumb – finally breaks that 20-toss streak.
