India Vs South Africa review: David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen shine as South Africa wins by seven wickets

Despite posting a massive total of 211, India failed to defend because of an unbeaten 131-run partnership between David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen, comprising ten blistering sixes.

Robust total from best of IPL 2022 in Indian Uniform 

On winning the toss, South Africa opted for bowling first. Ishan Kishan opened with Ruturaj Gaikwad. They both gave a quick-fire start as Ishan Kishan went on to score big, laying the perfect foundation for the team ahead. Though Wayne Parnell dismissed Gaikwad for 23, Ishan Kishan went on attacking and stitched an 80-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer. Ishan Kishan got out of Keshav Maharaj after smashing 76 off 48. Shreyas Iyer 36 (27), Rishabh Pant 29 (16) and especially Hardik Pandya 31 (12) played blistering cameos. Where most of the spinners were struggling, Keshav Maharaj used the conditions well to take crucial wickets. The Pacers, too, had a good game in patches. India successfully posted a total of 211 at a loss of 4 wickets. 

David Miller 2.0: A batting beast

The visitors had the chase game start with Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma. Bhuvneshwar Kumar got a sensational breakthrough via review taken by Pant for stumping. Dwaine Pretorius scored quick 29 runs off 13 balls as Harshal Patel bowled him out in the final over of the powerplay. This followed the wicket of Quinton de Kock. The wickets can be called a blessing in disguise for South Africa as Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller took the field early. While Rassie van der Dussen struggled initially, Miller took the role of power hitter to smoke the bowlers to all parts. Shreyas Iyer dropping van der Dussen in 16th over when he was 29 of 30 costs the whole match, as, in the successive 16 balls, he bombarded to score 46. The broken bat changed RvD's life today as he started middling the ball and looked like a different batter once he changed the bat. None of the bowlers could find a way to halt the batters from striking as the duo put on a mammoth partnership of 131 runs in 63 balls to seal the first win in the series for South Africa.

On losing the match, Rishabh Pant, India's captain, said, "We had enough on the board, but I think we were a little off with the execution. But sometimes you got to give credit to the opposition. Miller and RvD batted well. Slower balls were working when we batted, but the wicket got better in the second innings. Mostly we executed our plans (to Miller), but the wicket got better and better. We were very happy with the total, but next time we are in a similar situation, we will do better."

India fell short of Captaincy?

While South African batters were clinical in making most of the short boundaries, there's a lot to be done on the bowling front for India and even Rishabh Pant as a leader. Many concerns are shared about the bowler selection by Rishabh Pant during the match. Chahal in the powerplay, when you have Axar, who is more suited for a pressure-building over with field up and then giving the final over to a spinner with so little to defend, could have been used in a better place. With so much to improve and work on, India will face South Africa for the second match at Cuttack on 12th June 2022.