Should have batted better against Chahal and Kuldeep: Faf du Plessis

Hosts South Africa looked in sublime form, coming on the back of an unbeaten 17 match streak as they aimed to stretch it further in the ODI opener against India. However, the Proteas ambitions dealt a major blow as they succumbed to the Men in Blue by a comprehensive 6-wicket defeat. Following the loss, South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis blamed the inability to build substantial partnerships as the prime reason behind his side’s loss in the opening ODI of the six-match series.

Du Plessis also conceded the hosts were 60 odd runs short, after electing to bat first on a Durban surface that progressively quickened up. Albeit Du Plessis scored his ninth ODI hundred with a class 120, he cribs of not getting the required support from the other end as Indian wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal strangled South African batsmen in the middle overs.

Du Plessis speaks at the post-match conference

Speaking at the post-match conference, the Proteas skipper said, “We didn’t bat well today. As a batting unit, for the second top score to be 30 or 40 shows that there weren’t partnerships. The most basic thing about ODI cricket is two guys getting together and putting some sort of partnership together.”

“I thought the Indian spinners bowled well but still we should have been better today against them.”

He added, “I certainly think we needed 300. 260 odd wasn’t enough on that deck. The last two games we played here, we got more runs and won. We chased 370 here against Australia. So, I think it’s unfair to say to the bowlers that they were poor. I thought purely we didn’t have runs. If we had got 60-70 more, it would have been easier for our bowlers.”

Indian spinners steal the show

Indian spin duo of Chahal and Yadav shared five wickets amongst them. Yadav finished with 3 for 34 in 10 overs and was easily the pick of the India bowlers. Du Plessis also lauded the duo for their efforts and stated that the Indian spinners brought in a surprise element for his batsmen, which was difficult to handle in one go.