India’s batting order looked completely out of sorts in the second T20I of the 3-match series against South Africa at Cuttack. Shikhar Dhawan failed for the second time in the series. Dhawan was dismissed LBW by South Africa’s all-rounder Chris Morris. But the most crucial moment of the match came when Virat Kohli was run out by Morris on the first ball that he played. Virat and Rohit’s partnership was the biggest reason why India were able to post a total of 200 runs in the first T20I. Virat’s wicket opened the door for South Africa to exploit India’s middle-order that wasn’t able to do much in the first match. Rohit Sharma, who scored a brilliant hundred in the first match, showed laziness in the middle and he was run-out for 22 by David Miller. Ambati Rayudu couldn’t get off the mark as he missed a straight full-toss by Rabada on the very first ball that he played. Dhoni and Raina were also dismissed in quick succession by Albie Morkel and Imran Tahir respectively.
VIDEO: The most crucial moment of the second T20I between India and South Africa
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Rohit Sharma has been guilty of running out his partners in the middle as he also ran out Shikhar Dhawan in the first T20 at Dharamshala. Virat Kohli is the mainstay of India’s batting order across all three formats and his wicket early in the game always puts a lot of pressure on the middle order.
India will have to be careful in the matches to come as gifting wickets to a strong opposition like South Africa is never a good idea. South Africa are a brilliant fielding unit and Indian batsmen will have to mindful of this fact.
