2nd ODI: South Africa spinners were more consistent with their lines and lengths, says Rishabh Pant
India Today
2nd ODI: Rishabh Pant admitted that South Africa spinners Tabraiz Shamsi, Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram were more consistent in their lines and lengths than Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal and India's inability to take wickets in the middle overs cost them the match.
India had enough runs on the board and their inability to take wickets in the middle overs during the second ODI is what cost them the match, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has said. Pant scored 85 off 71 balls but it was not enough as India lost the second ODI by seven wickets, thus conceding the series to South Africa.
"The track was slightly on the slower side and at the same time, we had enough runs on the board," Pant told reporters after the match.
"Last match (first ODI), we chased and this match we batted first, so when they batted, the wicket was much better for batting. In the second innings, it became slower and slower as the game progressed.
"Today, it was the same but they batted well in middle overs that's why they chased down the target. We didn't get enough wickets in the middle overs," he said.
Pant also admitted that South Africa spinners Tabraiz Shamsi, Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram were more consistent in their lines and lengths than Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal. He also said that this was India's first ODI series after a long gap in the format and that was one of the biggest reasons for the defeat.
"I think they (SA spinners) were more consistent in their lines and lengths and they are used to playing in these conditions," he said.
One of the biggest reasons for the defeat is lack of 50-over game time for a long duration," opined Pant.
