After registering a dominating win in the second T20I in Mohali, Team India gained an unassailable lead in the three-match series against South Africa but failed to get going in the ongoing third T20I in Bengaluru. The Men in Blue ended their innings on a modest total of 134 for 9.
Skipper Virat Kohli’s decision to bat first didn’t go down well as Rohit Sharma got out early for the second game in a row. The in-form opener, who had scored just 12 in the previous game, was out for just 9 in the ongoing one. He had started well, hitting two fours before Beuran Hendricks cut short his knock.
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Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli then steadied the ship and put India in a good position. Kohli, who had scored an unbeaten 72 in the previous game, was not looking sharp but with Dhawan looking good, the run-rate was going well. They took the score past the 50-run mark before Shikhar miscued a delivery from Tabraiz Shamsi to be out for 36. Five runs later, Kagiso Rabada dismissed Kohli too to leave India reeling at 68 for 3 from 63 for 1.
Rishabh Pant got the start but failed to capitalize on it and was dismissed for 19. The likes of Shreyas Iyer and Krunal Pandya failed too as India found themselves 6 down for just 98 in around 14 overs. Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya then provided the much-needed solidity with the bat but with the team in such trouble, they failed to go berserk in the slog overs. Both of them departed in the very final over bowled by Rabada. India eventually ended on 134 for 9.
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However, even if India loses the game, they can’t lose the series. The fans, however, were not at all impressed with the performance and took to Twitter to slam the players.
Here is how Twitter reacted to India’s batting:
Interpol officers waiting outside the stadium to arrest Virat Kohli for criminally offensive captaincy.
— gcg ⚰️ (@The_Sleigher) September 22, 2019
After pant got out, Kohli in Dressing room be like#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/H4pYTCw7A6
— Rishabh Srivastava (@AskRishabh) September 22, 2019
This Indian T20 side needs a ton of work. For starters, KL Rahul needs to play up top #INDvSA
— Hemant (@hemantbuch) September 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/IManish311/status/1175785903031144448
Rishab Pant Going Back To Pavilion After Getting Out Scoring 19 Runs… #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/ZjcYN7CnWO
— Babu Bhaiya (@Shahrcasm) September 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/itsdhruvism/status/1175780073460252672
has pant displaced rohit sharma as twitter's favourite son yet? #INDvSA
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) September 22, 2019
The way South Africans are catching, India might them to catch Vijay Mallya.#INDvSA
— Sunil the Cricketer (@1sInto2s) September 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/khushikadri/status/1175776763009355777
I think India went too hard without quite getting to the nature of the wicket. The wicket has always held up a touch. The higher risk higher reward has not worked in their favour yet. These two would do well to take a backseat for a few overs. Get to 120 in 15, then aim 170
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) September 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/VigneshA_26/status/1175767127065628673
chhoti moti series baccho ke liye hai, Rohit Sharma bas World Cup jaise tournament mein chalta hai
Legend #INDvSA
— Sunil the Cricketer (@1sInto2s) September 22, 2019
