IND vs SA updates:
Indiaâs handling of allrounder Venkatesh Iyer raises eyebrows
India's Venkatesh Iyer. (AP Photo)Whatâs the role of Venkatesh Iyer in the team? Thatâs one of the many puzzles floating around the Indian ODI team that plays a brand of outdated cricket. There are quite a few issues from the run-getting pace of the top order to lack of wicket-taking bowlers in the middle overs to lack of finishers but Iyerâs case is a good example as any to capture the confusion in the camp. The stand-in captain KL Rahul, and more so head coach Rahul Dravid, cannot absolve themselves of the mismanagement of the seam-bowling all-rounder who made his ODI debut on Wednesday.
Absence of a seaming all-rounder in white-ball cricket has been the teamâs biggest weakness of late, which got exposed at the T20 World Cup last year, when picking a half-fit Hardik Pandya backfired. Iyer was fast-tracked to the Indian team after the tournament because the selectors saw him as an option to fill the void. The team management selected him ahead of Suryakumar Yadav for the first ODI, ostensibly to use him as an all-rounder. Neither was he given a single over, nor was the southpaw utilised properly as a batsman. If he hasnât impressed the team management as a bowler then why has he been picked and wasted low down in the order where he canât even show his batting prowess? What was the communication between the selectors and the management? The top order, as it stands now, is clustered with batsmen who like to take their time. Something needs to change there to seize the momentum. Iyer would be actually ideal there as in case he succeeds, it will give India a breakthrough from rigidity they have slipped into. And they wouldnât get a better chance than these bilateral series to try out options.
The ongoing series against the Proteas, or any bilateral series for that matter in the lead-up to the 2023 World Cup, is sort of inconsequential for India in terms of results. Being the hosts of the ICC event, India arenât part of the World Cup Super League, as they will qualify automatically. From that perspective, bilateral series offers Dravid and company the chance to plug the void/loopholes and zero in on the right players and right combination.
IND vs SA 2nd ODI: 
36 ball 50 for Quinton De Kock. 27th ODI fifty for the South African wicketkeeper. QDK continues to pile up runs against India. He has been phenomenal in this innings and his conversion rate against India is very very good. SA: 74/0 after 11.2 overs
Ashwin turns it past Janneman Malan who went for the reverse-sweep but could not execute it perfectly and the ball deflects off Pant who fails to gather. India take the review just in the nick of time and the impact is outside and India lose the review. Signs of desperation from the men in blue.
The South African opener is on 46 off 32 balls as South Africa get to 66/0 in 10 overs in Paarl. Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan have given a good start to the hosts. Now Chahal is into the attack and gets turn instantly. Can India get a wicket here?
De Kock steps out to Ashwin and is beaten but Pant falters behind the stumps. Adding insult to injury, QDK sweeps the next one for a six. Dear o dear! Will QDK make India pay? SA: 47/0 after 7.3 overs
Maiden over from Ashwin! That's the first maiden of the match. Top bowling by the off-spinner to Janneman Malan. SA: 38/0 after 6 overs
Quinton de Kock with a cracking shot as Ashwin is introduced. QDK looks in unreal form and absolutely love watching de Kock bat when he's in form. Just so easy on the eye. India will need to remove him as soon as possible to not let him take away the game. The Required Run Rate for South Africa is 5.53 and they are now running at a rate of 8.50 after only 4 overs of the match.
SA: 34/0 after 4 overs
Quinton de Kock is up and running and takes the attack to Bhuvi. The southpaw smashes Bhuvneshwar Kumar for two fours and a six in the second over. South Africa already 28/0 after just three overs.
Once again Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock open for SA. Janneman Malan is on strike. Bumrah will open the attack. A four on the fifth ball of the first over. Quinton de Kock seems in the mood. SA: 7/0 after 1 over
A four off the last ball from the bat of Ashwin and that results in 14 runs off the final over. Shardul Thakur's 38-ball 40 and Ashwin's 25 (24) at the end helps India to 287/6 in 50 overs. Rishabh Pant top scored for India with 85 off 71 balls while skipper K L Rahul made 55 off 79 balls. Can the visitors defend this and level the series?
Ngidi bowls one very close to the wide line, Ashwin misses, looks towards the ump for a Wide, the ump doesn't give it. 1 2 0 0 0 2 - Three dot balls in the 49th over bowled by Ngidi! Ashwin was on strike from the 2nd delivery! Ind: 273/6
Ashwin nails the slog-sweep and it soared over the deep mid-wicket fence for a maximum. Shardul Thakur and R Ashwin with an important partnership for India. 11 runs from the 47th over. IND: 263/6 after 47 overs
FOUR! Thakur waits for the ball to turn from Shamsi and whacks it over extra cover. Just an extension of the drive but he needed to get that over the fielder. "Lord Thakur has been our most consistent batter in this ODI series," says Adwait on Instagram. IND: 252/6 after 46 overs
That’s one of the many puzzles floating around the Indian ODI team that plays a brand of outdated cricket. There are quite a few issues from the run-getting pace of the top order to lack of wicket-taking bowlers in the middle overs to lack of finishers but Iyer’s case is a good example as any to capture the confusion in the camp. (READ MORE)
Quinton de Kock has the quickest hands! What an amazing stumping by QDK! Superb timing, quick hands results in a wicket. V Iyer is gone. Another middle-order slump for the visitors and it seems like India will fall short of 300. IND: 239/6 after 43.5 overs
Thakur reads the slower one and hits one into the stands over mid-wicket. Phehlukwayo has a look of wonder as India record their fourth six of the innings. They need a few more lusty blows. IND: 228/5 in 42 overs
Shamsi gets wicket number 2 for himself and India lose their 5th. Shreyas Iyer departs for 11 after India cross 200-run mark in 37 overs. Iyer is caught plumb in front of stumps and South Africa have bounced back strong. An LBW appeal off Shamsi was sent upstairs, and ball-tracking showed the deadly 3 cards. IND are 207/5 after 37 overs.
Magala over steps and Venkatesh sends the free hit sailing over the fence. That's the first six for Venkatesh, launches straight over the bowlers head. This is also the first maximum after Pant in this match so far. And with that, India cross the 200-run mark. IND are 203/4 after 36 overs.
What’s the role of Venkatesh Iyer in the team? That’s one of the many puzzles floating around the Indian ODI team that plays a brand of outdated cricket. There are quite a few issues from the run-getting pace of the top order to lack of wicket-taking bowlers in the middle overs to lack of finishers but Iyer’s case is a good example as any to capture the confusion in the camp. The stand-in captain KL Rahul, and more so head coach Rahul Dravid, cannot absolve themselves of the mismanagement of the seam-bowling all-rounder who made his ODI debut on Wednesday.
South Africa remove Rishabh Pant soon after claiming Rahul's wicket. Pant hits one straight to long on to depart for 85! Venkatesh Iyer comes in place of Pant. IND are 186/4 after 33 overs.
South Africa get their much-needed breakthrough, remove KL Rahul for 55. Magala gets in on the act, after Rahul chips it to van der Dussen at midwicket. Maiden ODI wicket for Magala. Shreyas Iyer comes in place of Rahul. IND are 183/3 after 32 overs