India opener Shikhar Dhawan on Wednesday lamented the fall in the middle order after the team’s loss to South Africa in the first ODI. Chasing a target of 297, India were 138/1 at one stage before losing their way to finish at 265/8 and thus suffered a 31-run loss in the first match of the series.
“We started well and I think the wicket was slow, it was giving a little bit of turn as well. So, when you are chasing (nearly) 300 runs, when the middle order comes to bat, it is not easy to play the shot,” Dhawan said in the virtual post-match press conference.
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“Our wickets fell in heaps and it had an effect on us as a batting unit. Of course, we didn’t have a century from our side and we didn’t have a big partnership.”
India’s inexplicable middle-order collapse ensured that half-centuries from Dhawan and Virat Kohli didn’t count for much.
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Dhawan also praised South Africa’s Temba Bavuma (110 off 143) and Rassi van der Dussen (129 not out off 96).
When asked what was the turning point of the game, he said, “I think both the South African batsmen (batsmen) batted very well and they took the innings very deep.”
Dhawan, however, was happy with his performance.
“Yes, the plan was to play on merit in the beginning and it was the kind of wicket we bring back home. I was keeping my flow going, but when wickets fell, I had a big partnership in my mind.
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“It was not easy to score runs for the new batsmen, the plan of the set batsmen was to take it deep but unfortunately I got out, I didn’t expect the turn, but yes it happens,” said Dhawan. Senior players added.
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