Kohli–Gaikwad’s Twin Tons Go in Vain as South Africa Seal Record Chase and Rahul Admits 20–25 Runs Short in Wet Raipur Night

Advertisment

India suffered a surprising defeat in Raipur after scoring a big 358/5. KL Rahul spoke after the match and shared the real reasons behind the loss. His tone was honest as he accepted that the night went wrong from the very start.

Rahul said the toss loss changed everything. South Africa chose to bat second. The heavy dew came in early and made bowling very hard. Bowlers could not grip the ball. The outfield turned wet. Fielders slipped and lost control. Rahul said he felt “kicking myself” as the toss went against India again. This also continued India’s long run of toss losses in ODIs.

Dew Turns the Game Against India

India still began well with the bat. Virat Kohli scored 102 with solid timing. Ruturaj Gaikwad made 105, his first ODI century. Both played with calm and confidence. They lifted the scoring rate once their fifties came. The total of 358/5 looked strong. Rahul praised both knocks but said the team still needed 20 to 25 more runs to feel safe in wet conditions.

Advertisment

South Africa chased with great rhythm. Aiden Markram hit 110 and kept the scoreboard moving. Matthew Breetzke made 68. Dewald Brevis added 54. Their chase ended at 362/6 in 49.2 overs. It became South Africa’s highest successful chase in an ODI on Indian soil. Captain Temba Bavuma called it a complete performance. He spoke about smart planning and strong competition within the team.

Missed Chances and Key Moments Cost India

Rahul said India must fix small mistakes. He pointed to missed chances in the field. He said the team lost control in important moments. He also said India must learn how to score more in conditions where bowlers cannot use a dry ball. Rahul made it clear that conditions hurt the team, but improvement is still needed.

The match showed how modern ODIs favour chasing under lights. Dew, the toss, and big hitting can change games quickly. India now needs a stronger plan for night matches. The loss also put pressure on the team to come back harder in the next game. Rahul’s thoughts have already shaped the discussion around India’s strategy in similar conditions.

Advertisment