IND vs SA 2025: Rahul admits ‘toss plays a huge part’ after India can’t defend massive score

After India lost to South Africa in the second ODI in Raipur, where the hosts failed to defend a massive total of 358, skipper KL Rahul admitted that the toss played a huge role and made a significant difference in conditions where dew heavily favours the chasing side.

India lost their 20th consecutive toss in ODIs, and South Africa elected to bowl first before sealing a four-wicket win with four balls to spare, levelling the series 1-1. The Men in Blue were asked to bat first for the second match in a row under Rahul’s captaincy this series. While India managed a narrow 17-run victory in the opening ODI in Ranchi after posting 349, an even bigger target in Raipur proved insufficient this time.

"Not really, considering everything - how much dew there is and how difficult it is to bowl in the second innings. The last game, we did really well, considering everything. All the difficulties for bowlers bowling with a wet ball, and the umpires have been nice enough to change the ball a few times, but still I think toss plays a huge part. So I'm kicking myself about losing two tosses in a row. It's obviously making a huge difference,” said Rahul in the post-match presentation.

"To reflect back there's always things that we could have done better. With the bat, I know that 350 looks good, but that's also been the chat in the dressing room even after the last game [about] how can we get that extra 20-25 runs, so that the bowlers find some cushion when they bowl with the wet ball. Bowlers obviously are trying their heart out, but there are areas to improve. There are a few soft boundaries that we gave away, even in the field. If we can tighten up all three aspects of the game and get a bit more sharper, then maybe those 20-25 runs will go our way and we'll be on the other side,” he added.

India’s imposing total was built on the back of centuries from Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad. It was the 11th instance of Kohli scoring hundreds in consecutive ODIs, while Gaikwad registered his maiden century in the format. The duo put on a 195-run stand off just 156 balls for the third wicket.

"It was beautiful to watch - Virat, the way he batted. Obviously, we have seen him do this for 53 times now. He goes on about doing his job, we're used to seeing it. Just to see the way Rutu batted was beautiful. [He] took on the spinners, hit his gaps. Once he got past that 50, the tempo that he batted with is I think what gave us that extra 20 runs," said Rahul.

Despite the strong platform, India failed to finish well, managing only 103 runs in the final 15 overs despite having eight wickets in hand, and just 74 runs in the last 10 overs. Rahul scored an unbeaten 66 at No. 5, even though he was listed at No. 6 on the team sheet at the toss. Washington Sundar contributed just 1 run, while Ravindra Jadeja added an unbeaten 24, which included two boundaries.

"Obviously batting at 5-6-7 [could be looked at]," Rahul said. "If the lower order could contribute a little bit more and hit a couple of more boundaries, then maybe that's the 20 runs that we would have been happy with. Today is the first time I've been slotted at No. 6 and I've walked in at 5. Otherwise, it's always a decision before the game,” said Rahul.

“The way Rutu and Virat's partnership was going on, they set a good tempo. So GG [Gautam Gambhir, head coach] bhai and I felt like it would be the right time for me to walk in and keep that tempo going. Obviously [I] got a fifty last game, so, there's a bit of confidence. Someone who's batted in the middle, someone who's high on confidence is probably the right person to go in and take on the bowling and keep that tempo going. That was the plan,” he concluded.