Team India defeated South Africa by 16 runs in the second T20I in Guwahati on October 02 (Sunday) and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. After being asked to bat first, the Men in Blue posted a daunting score of 237/3 in 20 overs with KL Rahul (57 runs off 28 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (61 runs off 22 balls) scoring half-centuries in double quick time.
In reply to India's total, South Africa got off to a horrendous start and at one point it appeared as if the home team will pocket the match by more than 50 runs. But David Miller's (106 not out off 47 balls) onslaught reduced the margin of defeat to just 16 runs for the Proteas as the Indian bowlers were again taken to the cleaners in death overs.
Shortly after he let his bat do the talking amid criticism regarding his slow strike rate, India opener KL Rahul countered his detractors, saying he bats according to the 'demand of the innings'.
The Indian vice-captain's strike rate has always been under the scanner and it only magnified during the Asia Cup and his 56-ball 51 against South Africa in the series opener at Thiruvananthapuram.
"Yes, going at a higher strike rate was a demand of this innings," Rahul said at the post-match press conference.
"When you are batting first you obviously want to give yourself a couple of overs to assess the conditions to see what are the shots that you can play, you talk to your partner, you sort of give yourself a target and then you try and play accordingly. We've always tried to be more aggressive, take a lot of risks. that was what needed from me today and I'm happy that it came off today," he added.
Rahul was seen hitting a couple of sixes effortlessly over fine square leg with his impressive wrist work.
"Yes, there's a certain gift all of us have, that's why we are playing for the country. We have gotten this far because there's naturally certain talents.
"It's T20 cricket, you have to get in position to try to hit sixes. When the balls come at 145kmph, you don't have much time to see the ball and react, you hit with instinct. It's a lot of practice over the years," he said.
Their aggressive approach while batting was a conscious effort post the last T20 World Cup debacle in UAE where India failed to make the knockouts.
"That effort has been there for last 10-12 months since the last World Cup, that (scoring big runs batting first) is something that we have consciously tried to get better at. We've done it whenever we've gotten opportunities. something took back and that was our learning," the Indian opening batter added.
(With PTI Inputs)
