Dropped catch, rain cost us the game: Dhawan

Johannesburg: Opener Shikhar Dhawan said twin rain breaks coupled with reprieves to David Miller cost India dearly as South Africa brought a halt to the visitor’s rampaging ODI run with a five-wicket win in the fourth ODI. Miller was given two lives — a dropped catch in the deep and then was bowled off a no ball off Yuzvendra Chahal. He was on six and six not out respectively and then went on to make 39 off 28 balls.

“The main reason was, of course, the dropped catch and then a wicket off no-ball. From there the momentum changed. Otherwise, we were in very good position,” Dhawan said at the post-match press conference Saturday night. “Of course rain had an impact too. Our spinners couldn’t turn the ball or grip the ball the way they did in the last three matches. It makes a difference when the ball gets wet. That’s the reason,” added the left-hander.

About 53 minutes were lost during India’s innings as rain first stopped play when the visitors were placed at 200 for two. Although no overs were cut, India lost the momentum and only finished at 289 for seven. Later another rain break meant 113 minutes were lost during South Africa’s innings and the match was reduced to 28 overs with 202 being set as the revised target.

“We took the decision to bat first because in the evening the ball moves here. There’s also the effect of the breeze and it can have an impact,” said Dhawan, who scored a century in his 100th ODI. “Of course, we were batting in a flow when the rain came and our flow was broken. I got out after that. Then the runs didn’t come at the same pace. But that doesn’t mean the total was bad. But once it rained again, the outfield became wet.”

Dhawan said Miller grabbed the chances with both hands and changed the complexion of the game. “Miller played very well. Luck was on his side. First, he was dropped and then got bowled on a no ball. Usually, our spinners don’t bowl no balls. He took that chance with both hands and went on to change the momentum of the game,” he said.

But the main talking point of the day was wrist-spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal’s below-par performances. Chahal (1/68) and Yadav (2/51) did add to their tally of wickets but went for a lot of runs as well. “See they are young guys. They have been doing very well, more than well for us. These two spinners have won three games for us. My support is always with them. Anyone can have a bad day,” he said.

Dhawan also backed skipper Kohli’s decision to hand the ball to the wrist-spin duo instead of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah after the match was curtailed. “At that time, the captain probably thought that they were taking chances against the spinners and we needed wickets. Because the wicket was such (good for batting) and the ground was wet so by stopping runs we couldn’t have won. Wickets were very important,” he said.

“So the captain thought the spinners could take wickets. Sometimes you take a risk and it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t pay off. It’s normal,” said Dhawan.