Team India created history by registering there first ever series win on the South African soil against the Proteas. There is still one more match remaining in the six-match ODI series but the visitors have taken an unassailable lead of 4-1. The pillars of the Indian team with the bat in the tournament have been Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan. While many are pleased with it, former cricketer Mohinder Amarnath looked concerned with India’s over-dependence on the two batsmen.

While Kohli is the leading run-scorer in the series with 429 runs to his name, Shikhar Dhawan comes in next with 305 runs under his belt. Mohinder Amarnath reckons that the century from Rohit Sharma in the previous game is a much-needed relief amidst this backdrop. In his latest column for the Times of India, he noted that Rohit’s century was a timely addition in the worrying times for the Indian batting. The Indian middle-order, in particular, has looked very dull thus far.

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Amarnath wrote, “One of the best things to come out of Tuesday’s game is Rohit Sharma’s knock. He seemed a different player. The aggression was there, and he didn’t shy away from hitting those short balls which were bothering him earlier on this tour. He is one of those players who can convert a start into big innings, and this was a crucial one as India needed someone in the top order to stand up. So far it has been Virat or Shikhar Dhawan who have been the main pillars on this tour.”

He further added, “The Indian middle order is still a bit of a worry for me. So far, they have not really come to terms with the opponents, and the worry is that if the top-order fails, then what will happen? They need to be more consistent so that they can take the responsibility on themselves, should the situation demand.”

Furthermore, Mohinder showered praises for the Indian wrist spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. Both Kuldeep and Chahal have been the crucial cogs for the men in blue in their quest for the maiden triumph against the Proteas in the series thus far. The Chahal-Kuldeep duo combined with wits of MS Dhoni have wreaked havoc in the opposition camp.

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Amarnath noted, “Wristspinners are a very important part of the team, especially overseas where wickets are not usually conducive to spin. These two boys, Kuldeep and Chahal, have done very well right through. It is their bowling that changed the complexion of the whole series, especially if you take into consideration the number of wickets they have taken and the time is taken to pick them up.”

Commenting on the opposition, Mohinder Amarnath wrote, “South Africa rely too heavily on Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, who are probably the only two players who really read Kuldeep and Chahal well. The others, honestly, seem to have no clue: there’s a lot of guesswork and slogging. That may work sometimes, but not all the time against quality spinners. Kuldeep and Chahal have managed to create doubt in their minds, leaving them to wonder how to tackle them. This has been the difference and something that has helped India win in South Africa.”