Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar has called out stand-in captain KL Rahul’s decisions in the ODI against South Africa for his poor rotation of bowlers during India’s bowling innings. The Indians had initially bowled well to reduce the Proteas to 68/3, after which captain Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen scored centuries to propel their side to a score in excess of 290.
Jasprit Bumrah picked up a couple of wickets for the visitors but was left fighting a lone battle as he got little support from the rest of the attack. KKR all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer played his first ODI at Paarl, but didn’t bowl a single ball.
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Gavaskar criticised Rahul’s tactics behind not handing Iyer the ball despite the South African batsmen being in ominous form. He also felt that the mismanagement of the bowling attack was one of the main reasons behind India’s defeat.
“Only the captain has the answer as to why Venkatesh wasn’t bowled even once. He is a new player who has just made a name for himself in the last 4-5 months. That is why he is in the Indian team.
But oppositions don’t know much about him. And when such a scenario arises, giving a couple of overs will allow the batters to know him,”
Gavaskar remarked in a conversation on Sports Tak after the game.
The stalwart batsman felt that Iyer’s abilities with the ball could have been utilised to break the momentum of the Proteas batsmen, who were looking very comfortable at the crease.
“And sometimes, that rhythm with which the batters are playing can also break. Had he given an over, something else could have happened. He could have given away 20-25 runs but at least it would have been something different”,
he added.
It was by no means a memorable debut for Venkatesh, who, apart from not being able to bowl, also scored just two runs before attempting a big shot off Lungi Ngidi, only to be caught by man-of-the-match Rassie van der Dussen.
In response, India were looking good after Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan struck fine half-centuries. However, things went downhill after the Delhi lads were dismissed, with the middle-order failing comprehensively, as the Proteas established a stranglehold on the game.
Shardul Thakur did score a half-century, but it was only too little too late as the Proteas wrapped up a convincing victory by 31 runs in the first ODI.
