The main point of discussion was Rahul toss comments as India lost the second ODI to South Africa by 358 defending a fantastic performance, and the victory was once again credited to the overwhelming power of the dew in the limited forms of game. India had lost the 20th consecutive linkage in ODIs and with the South African decision to bowl the conditions were so dictated that even an enormous total could not resist as the hosts evened the series by a four-wicket victory and four balls to spare.

KL Rahul later acknowledged that the toss was as definite as any strategy or single game. He emphasized the defeat was however not hard to overcome when conditions were brought into consideration and reasons why defending totals under heavy dew remains almost an insurmountable task in the hands of bowlers. With so much dew about and the ball so difficult to hold, it brings a new game altogether, he said, which serves to underscore the theme which has followed India through a number of games in this series. He further explained that the umpires made the effort of replacing the ball several times, but the benefit to the team in pursuit was enormous. One more time, Rahul toss comments were presented as the larger story the situation has not augured in the favor of India and the situation has taken its toll against them.

India had already registered 349 in the opening game and had just managed to fend off a late attack to conquer by 17 margin. Even this time, as they added 9 further runs their grip on the game gradually vanished as the ball gets wet and tricky to handle.Rahul pointed out that even a target of 350 is no longer a sure thing when the game goes under lights and it is at the early venues that dew becomes more of a factor. He disclosed that the team has already been deliberating on how to take totals higher.

It has been pre occupied with an attempt to acquire an additional 20-25 runs, he said. The latter can provide our bowlers, who desperately require it, with an edge that is afforded by those runs.

Major part of India total was as a result of centuries of Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad whose 195-run partnership helped India to come out of initial uncertainty into a domineering position. Kohli had back to back hundreds, his 11th hundred, the kind of poise and placement vintage. Nothing, however, excited Rahul more than the readiness of Gaikwad to go against spin and gain velocity once he went past fifty. Rahul attributed this to the fact that Gaikwad played at a rate that enabled India to drive the score closer to 360 even as the innings were losing its way during the later overs of the match.

India however with the strong base earned only 103 in 15 overs and only 74 in the last ten even with eight wickets left. These figures were critical and Rahul was not ignorant of that. The eight ball single of Washington Sundar and 27 balls 24 of Ravindra Jadeja kept the score preferably moving but not with the energy India required. Rahul who batted out 66 on 43 balls, hinted that the lower-middle order will need to become sharper in boundary hitting in order to keep up with the conditions. He also said that his personal promotion which was to walk in at No. 5 even though he was at No. 6 in the list, was something tactical, which he had agreed with the head coach Gautam Gambhir. Rahul said there was a rhythm to the partnership between Rutu and Virat and the team needed someone in shape to keep that rhythm going.

With the series now proceeding into a decider Rahul toss comments are used to point to a growing frustration, but also a clear idea of what India needs to rectify. The dew is beyond their control but the manner in which they ready themselves to the dew, their efficiency in finishing and their fielding blister are both in their power.

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