India conclude T20I series against the Proteas on a bitter note despite DK’s valiant show

With the series already sealedq and delivered at Guwahati, the final contest at Indore was just a preparation for the T20 World Cup where the primary motive was to test a few alternatives in case there is an anachronistic landslide ahead of the cricketing magnifique slated in less than a month in Australia.

India won the toss and opted to bowl first on a surface that had very few ingredients for the bowlers. Despite Umesh Yadav’s early blow, the Proteas never seemed troubled at all as Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw seemed to be in firm control of the proceedings with the Indian bowlers desperately scrambling for breath.

Shreyas Iyer’s electric presence on the field cut short Quinton de Kock’s phenomenal run but that did very little to deter the South African spirits as budding Proteas star, Tristan Stubbs slotted in perfectly to pair with Rossouw who was in a different zone altogether, as he smoked the Indian bowlers into every nook and cranny of the park.

The visitors posted a staggering 227 at the end of their 20 overs while Rilee Rossouw stayed unbeaten for a century that came off just 48 balls. It was a David Miller special in the final over that went for an overwhelming 24 runs from Deepak Chahar with a six that came off a no-ball, extending India’s woes.

Off to a long night’s chase, India suffered a couple of early pitfalls as Rohit played onto his own stumps while Shreyas Iyer was beaten by Wayne Parnell’s seam that also used up one of India’s reviews with the umpire being spot on about his decision.

Despite the early blows, Team India managed to stabilize the ship firmly, thanks to a maddening blitz from Rishabh Pant that gave way to Dinesh Karthik’s unreserved aggression in its wake, as the Men in Blue conjured a seraphic display in the powerplay, pushing back the soaring South Africans comprehensively.

However, as the saying goes, you live by the sword, you die by it too and two of India’s primary aggressors in the inconsequential rubber failed to figure out the blurred lines and by the time they could cease fire and slot in accordance to the requisites of the innings, the fire was already blazing at them and both Pant and Karthik were back in the pavilion as India teetered at 78 for 4 at the end of 7 overs.

Despite losing the top-order, the Indians were not willing to sit back and take hits as whoever came out in the middle, injected a show of power and domination as they went after the bowlers, without caring about the equation.

Even though the approach didn’t help India secure the clean sweep, it was instrumental enough to prove a point that saw the hosts pile up 178 with collective contributions that saw Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant set the tone while a late flourish from Deepak Chahar and Umesh Yadav showed the depth in the Indian batting.