SA vs IND 2018: It is a Wonderful Position to be Leading the Series 2-0 - Virat Kohli

It was a thoroughly professional performance by Team India, as they romped home by nine wickets in the 2^nd ODI against South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion to take a 2-0 lead in the six-match series.

The hosts were outclassed in every department, as the Indian wrist spinners again spun a web around the South African and they were unable to recover and get up from that web.

Winning the toss, India skipper Virat Kohli opted to field first and it yet again it was Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav who never allowed the Proteas to take advantage of proceedings. From a score of 39/1, South Africa was reduced to 51/4, as Kuldeep and Chahal bagged the wickets of Aiden Markram, David Miller and Quinton de Kock.

It was good bowling by the Indian spinners, but it was equally poor batting by the Proteas as most of them got dismissed pretty cheaply.

There was a brief partnership of 49 runs between JP Duminy and Khaya Zondo, but both fell in quick succession, and South Africa had no way to recover from it and ended up losing their last six wickets for a mere 19 runs.

South Africa eventually mustered 118 runs in 32.2 with Chahal bagging a five-wicket haul by conceding only 22 runs while Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with three wickets. India was expected to chase down the total without any fuss, and it was exactly what transpired in the 2^nd innings. After Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan got India off to a decent start, it was Dhawan and Kohli who ensured the visitors chased the total down without the fall any more wicket.

However, with India needing just a couple of runs, lunch break was taken which didn’t go down well with all adjudicators and commentators, as they felt common sense should have prevailed and the match should have finished after India struck a couple of runs.

However, both teams had to come back, and it was Kohli who hit the winning runs and helped India take a 2-0 lead.

Here is what the skipper said in the post-match presentation ceremony

“We thought at the toss; the ball is going to do a bit. Was a much harder wicket than Durban. Bhuvi and Bumrah started really well. What we thought in the morning, we did all those things right. We knew that we won’t get grass on the pitch. When it’s seaming, it’s anyone’s game anyway. We knew they were going to be dry. Those two are a handy bunch together. If we set up to chase down totals, we know exactly what we want to do. Rohit and Shikhar’s intent at the top is crucial. Small totals, it’s always important to start positive. It’s a wonderful position to be in. We know their middle-order is inexperienced, and we look to cash in on that.”

Here’s the Newsfeed: 

SA vs IND 2018, 2nd ODI: Twitter Goes Berserk as India Beats Proteas in Centurion by 9 Wickets

SA vs IND 2018: Kris Srikkanth Predicts the Outcome of the ODI Series