Raipur: South Africa put in an impressive performance under lights in Raipur, chasing down India’s impressive 358 with four wickets remaining and leveling the series 1-1. While India walked away in frustration, KL Rahul summed it up bluntly: “Throwing plays a big role, so I give myself a kick.” It was a frank admission on a night when dew overwhelmed tactics, bowlers and even a mountain of runs.
Earlier in the day, India hosted a batting masterclass. Virat Kohli created another century with his trademark clinical style. Ruturaj Gaikwad matched him stroke for stroke, added a good hundred himself and accelerated cleverly after reaching his fifty. Rahul, who moved to No. 5, kept the momentum going with a brisk 66 as India closed on 358/5. Things looked more than competitive in the first half of the game.
But when the lights came on, the script flipped.
The pursuit of South Africa was spearheaded by Aiden Markram, who pieced together a defining century. He walked away with the Player of the Match award and an honest breakdown of his mindset: the Proteas expected an early opener, expected trouble and committed to pushing through. “We had to get in first, then find the rhythm and then increase the pressure,” he said. Markram revealed that he and Temba Bavuma planned to take their chances in advance and if one fell, the next man would rebuild. It was controlled aggression with a clear game plan.
Matthew Breetzke (68th) kept the comeback stable and calm, building on his good form from the last game. Dewald Brevis added a useful 54, showing equal parts flair and maturity. The Proteas’ batting depth was evident throughout, each player embracing their role and playing with freedom – the style the team is committed to.
Temba Bavuma was thrilled with the result and stressed that this was not just a chase but a message. He called it an incredible game and stressed how difficult it was to beat India, even after a score of over 350. Bavuma was full of praise for Markram and the young Breetzke and also praised Bosch’s calm finishing under pressure. He admitted the injuries to Tony de Zorzi and Nandre Burger but assured that the bench was ready to step up.
For India, the story of the evening was the dew – and the miss. Rahul didn’t hide the reality: “It’s not really hard to swallow considering how much dew there is… it’s difficult to bowl in the second innings.” He appreciated the batting performance but pointed out that India still needs those extra 20-25 cushion runs when the conditions turn wet and unforgiving.
Rahul also explained the decision behind him batting at number 5, saying that the Kohli-Gaikwad team had set a pace that needed to be continued and since his confidence was high after his 50 in the previous game, he decided to come in earlier.
Despite the defeat, India were not outplayed – they were over-conditioned. South Africa, meanwhile, showed composure, clarity and confidence as the series headed to the decider.
Saturday now promises a high-risk finish with both sides armed with form, firepower and unfinished business.
