Debutant Venkatesh Iyer was not given the opportunity to bowl a single ball in his debut ODI match against South Africa yesterday, and opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan has revealed why.
The Indian team suffered a defeat in the opening match of the One Day International (ODI) series against South Africa after two spectacular innings from Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen for the Proteas.
With both scoring hundred each, South Africa posted 296 runs on the board, but India could only manage to score 265 runs and fell short by 31 runs.
What was more surprising was that India’s captain KL Rahul did not given an opportunity to bowl to debutant Venkatesh Iyer, who has been brought in as a all-rounder in the team and the 6th choice bowler.
Shikhar Dhawan explains why Venkatesh Iyer didn’t bowl vs South Africa
Speaking about it at the post match press conference, India’s opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan revealed that the team didn’t need him as the spinners were doing well and there were turn in the wicket.
He continued that fast bowlers were mostly used in the end, and the team was thinking about bringing the main bowlers when wicket was not falling to get some wicket, however, which didn’t happened.
And signed off saying that it was important to bring in the main bowlers in the end, like the spinners. Venkatesh also didn’t had the best of match with the bat either, scoring only 2 runs.
Talking off the match, South Africa opened the match and put up 296 runs on the board, all thanks to centuries from both Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen, who both added 110 and 129 runs respectively.
Their innings was really crucial for the win as the Proteas side were down to 3 wickets for just 68 runs early in the match. Jasprit Bumrah picked up 2 wickets, Ashwin got 1 while the other one was a run out.
As for Indian batting performance, only Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli and lower order Shardul Thakur impressed, with all of them scoring fifties.
Shikhar Dhawan scored 79 runs, Virat Kohli added 51, while Shardul Thakur once again showcased in his class with the bat, scoring a quickfire 50. India could only reach 265 runs in their limited 50 overs, losing the match by 31 runs.
With that, South Africa are in the series with 2 more matches still to be played. The other two matches will be played on the 21st and 23rd January respectively.
