IND vs SA: In a stunning turn of events, South Africa’s impressive streak in the 2023 World Cup came to a halt as they faced a resounding defeat at the hands of Team India. The Indian team showcased a dominating performance, outclassing Temba Bavuma’s squad with a massive margin of 243 runs at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Prior to the encounter, the cricketing world anticipated a fierce contest between the two top-form teams. However, the match unfolded differently as India surged to a monumental victory, raising questions about the suitability of the pitch.
IND vs SA: Post-match discussions were rife with speculation that the pitch may have played a significant role in South Africa’s capitulation. Yet, South Africa’s head coach, Rob Walter, stepped up to provide a more grounded analysis of the loss. He categorically dismissed the idea that the pitch was at fault.
Despite South Africa’s disappointing tally of 83 runs in the face of India’s imposing 326 for five wickets, Walter remained pragmatic. At the press conference, he remarked, “It would be wrong to blame the pitch. When one team scores 326 runs and the other doesn’t even make it to 100, you cannot just point fingers at the pitch.” He admitted that it wasn’t a 326-run pitch, suggesting that the South African bowlers conceded 70 to 80 runs more than they should have.
IND vs SA: Walter praised the Indian team’s performance, acknowledging that they outperformed South Africa in every facet of the game. Despite South Africa’s strong showings against other teams in the tournament, the Indian team proved to be superior on the day. He also expressed how playing against India in a World Cup match at a fully packed Eden Gardens, in front of around 65,000 spectators, was a golden opportunity for the South African team, noting the excitement rather than nervousness among his players.
Even as Marco Jansen, South Africa’s fast bowler who has been exceptional thus far, lost his rhythm at Eden Gardens and conceded many extra runs, Coach Walter offered support. He considered the experience in front of such a large crowd to be a valuable lesson for Jansen, expressing confidence that he would regain his form in the knockout stages of the tournament.
IND vs SA: The South African coach emphasized that the pitch was not to blame for their loss. Instead, it was a day where India’s exceptional performance met with an off-day for South Africa. As the dust settles on this match, the focus shifts to how South Africa will bounce back and what India’s resounding win suggests for their prospects in the remainder of the World Cup.
Image Credit – livemint
