India made the most of a costly South African fielding blunder during the second ODI in Raipur, where a chaotic double overthrow handed Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad two bonus runs. The incident occurred at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, December 3, and summed up the Proteas’ sloppy day in the field.
After winning the toss, South Africa once again opted to bowl first, hoping early wickets would dent India’s momentum. While they managed to remove both openers during the power play, they struggled to contain the flow of runs. Nandre Burger, despite troubling Rohit Sharma early on, leaked 42 runs in his six overs for just one wicket, allowing India to settle into a solid rhythm.
The most significant talking point, however, was the fielding error in the 22nd over. Kohli nudged a simple single towards square leg, but Tony de Zorzi’s wild throw sailed past wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. The backup throw was even worse, rolling away and gifting India two extra runs. Social media wasted no time roasting the Proteas, describing the moment as “schoolboy fielding” and accusing them of losing composure under pressure.
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At that stage, India were cruising at 137 for 2 in 22 overs. Kohli was batting fluently on 43 off 40, while Gaikwad looked composed on 41 off 46. Their 75-run stand kept India in control, especially after losing both openers early.
The innings began positively as Yashasvi Jaiswal punched a boundary off the first ball. Rohit Sharma then showcased his trademark timing, smashing three consecutive fours off Burger in the fifth over. However, the South African pacer had the last laugh when Rohit nicked one behind for 14 off 8 deliveries.
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Kohli entered at No. 3 and immediately stamped his authority by launching Lungi Ngidi for a six. Jaiswal’s promising start ended when Marco Jansen dismissed him for 22 off 38, leaving India needing a stabilising partnership.
Gaikwad, having survived a few early nervy moments, grew into his innings with a mix of streaky boundaries and calculated strokeplay, complementing Kohli’s fluency perfectly.
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India fielded the same XI that clinched a 17-run win in Ranchi, where Kohli’s brilliant century set up the victory. KL Rahul’s side entered Raipur with a 1-0 lead and strong momentum. Meanwhile, South Africa made tactical changes as they aimed to end their long wait for an ODI series win in India—the last coming way back in 2015-16.
Despite losing the toss for a staggering 20th ODI in a row, India have continued to win crucial matches, showcasing their remarkable adaptability and depth.
