Why India lost to South Africa?

After claiming two comprehensive wins in the T20 World Cup 2022, team India finally faced the heat. As they lost the important match against South Africa on Sunday. Here we have discussed on why India lost to South Africa.

The Proteas, whose bowling attack was considered as the most dangerous. Lived upto to their reputation and restricted the men in blue for just 133 for 9. Later, they chased down the target with 5 wickets in hand to top the Group 2 table.

India, however, still in race for the semis with 2 wins in 3 games and currently standing on second spot at the points table. But this defeat surely left some questions to resolve before the upcoming matches of team India.

Let’s look at the five main reasons behind why India lost to South Africa

  1. Irresponsible batting

The Indian team’s poor batting performance is the primary cause of the loss. The openers left without providing a solid foundation. And even though the middle order was aware of the bowling attack beforehand, they were unable to handle it.

Rahul, Rohit, Virat, Deepak Hooda, Hardik Pandya, and the finisher Dinesh Karthik all failed to stay on crease, or even play an anchor alongside Suryakumar Yadav.

It was only Surya, whose effort of 68 in 40 guide the team to cross 130. Otherwise, India would have struggled to cross even 100. The top-6 batters out of 7 only managed to add just 44 runs combined, defines how irresponsibly they played the game.

  1. Lazy Fielding

India gave this match to Proteas as a gift. Fielding mistakes cost them this game, ranging from dropped catches to missed run outs.

During the 12th over of the game, when South Africa still needed 71 to win in 50. Virat dropped a sitter at mid-wicket and Ashwin’s shocking reaction to it, was enough to tell how important yet easy that catch was.

The fielding chaos didn’t stopped there, as in the very next over, the skipper Sharma this time failed to run-out on a very easy attempt. He got enough time to react and throw the ball but he just missed.

  1. Still confused between Dinesh Karthik or Rishabh Pant?

Selecting Dinesh Karthik over Rishabh Pant cost the men in blue this game? There were discussions about Rishabh Pant being a good candidate for this event earlier today.

Dinesh Karthik, who was out on the crucial occasion against Pakistan in team India’s first game, once again failed to deliver when the team needed his contribution. He was only able to score 6 runs off of 15 balls that puts his position in the eleven in doubt.

  1. KL Rahul’s form

For a very long time, KL Rahul‘s poor performance has been questioned. As long as India was winning, this factor wasn’t discussed, but his clueless performance against South Africa has intensified the conversation.

Having scored only 4, 9 and 9 in three innings in the World Cup, Rahul’s form is a big concern for the Indian side, considering India chances to play semis. His performance always put pressure on the middle order batters which is not a good sign.

  1. Poor Bowling

Poor bowling effort in the beginning, Arshdeep Singh attempted to pin down the opposition team, but the other bowlers didn’t offer much assistance.

The only spinner in the team, R Ashwin leaked 43 runs in his 4 overs, taking just a single wicket. Skipper Rohit Sharma handed him the responsibility to bowl the crucial 18th over. When the Proteas still required 25 off 18, but he failed to trap David Miller. Who smashed 2 sixes on the first two balls of the over to realise the pressure and put the equation in a manageable form.

Mohammad Shami was good with the bowl though, having leaked only 13 in 4 overs and took a wicket too. But, the grip India needed specially in the middle overs when South Africa was 3 down inside powerplay overs was not there. Which is one of the main reasons behind India’s loss.