KL Rahul Points to Heavy Dew as India Lose High-Scoring ODI to South Africa in Raipur
India captain KL Rahul said that the four-wicket loss to South Africa in the second ODI at Raipur was heavily influenced by the conditions, especially the dew that made it difficult for bowlers to control the ball in the second innings. India posted 358/5 after centuries from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Virat Kohli, along with an unbeaten 66 from Rahul. But South Africa chased the target with four balls left, levelling the series 1–1.
The match turned into a high-scoring contest, with Aiden Markram’s century guiding the chase, supported by strong contributions from Matthew Breetzke and Dewald Brevis.
Rahul Highlights Impact of Dew on India’s Bowling
Rahul said that defending a large total became difficult once the dew settled in. Bowlers struggled to grip the ball and the wet conditions reduced the effectiveness of spin and variations. He pointed out that the toss played an important role and batting first became a disadvantage in such conditions.
Despite this, Rahul said that India still had areas where they could have performed better. He indicated that both bowling and fielding needed improvement, especially during the crucial middle overs when South Africa accelerated.
India Aimed for Extra Runs in the First Innings
Rahul said that India’s target of 358 was strong but the team had discussed scoring 20–25 additional runs to create a bigger margin for the bowlers. While Gaikwad and Kohli produced a superb 195-run partnership that lifted India after early wickets, Rahul felt that the lower order could have added more during the final overs.
Gaikwad’s stroke play after reaching his half-century impressed the team management, as he shifted gears and maintained tempo through the middle phase.
Rahul Adjusts Batting Slot During the Innings
Rahul revealed that he was originally slotted to bat at six but chose to walk in at five due to the strong momentum created by Gaikwad and Kohli. With confidence from his fifty in the previous match, the team felt he could continue the scoring rate effectively once the partnership crossed the halfway stage.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
India’s defeat in Raipur showcased how much playing conditions can influence a high-scoring match. While the strong batting display put India in a commanding position, the heavy dew significantly changed the balance in the second half. The result sets up an exciting series decider, where India will look to improve execution and adapt better to conditions. The batting form of Kohli, Gaikwad and Rahul remains a major positive going forward.