India skipper rues team's inability to grab chances in J'burg ODI
India's Virat Kohli leaves the field after being dismissed during the fourth ODI against South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday. PIC/AFP
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India captain Virat Kohli has rued his team's misfortune, but admitted that South Africa were deserving winners as they showed a lot of character during their five-wicket win in the fourth ODI. "On hindsight, you have to give credit to South Africa. I think they played with a lot of character in the end, they pulled through.. they deserved to win," Kohli said after Saturday's weather-hit and curtailed ODI.
"They are a quality side, we expected them to play quality cricket and they played well. We know we'll have to be at the top of our game to get another win under our belt and we'll work extremely hard for that," he added. Kohli also noted how conditions had worked against his team as India scored just 89 in 16.3 overs after the first break of play. "After the break when Shikhar (Dhawan) and Jinks (Ajinkya Rahane) came off the wicket played a bit differently, it wasn't as good to bat after the break," he said.
Kohli felt the curtailment of the match helped South Africa. "The game getting shorter probably worked in their favour, they had to hit regardless of what the situation was. If it was a full game you never know," he said. "It was more like a T20 game where you have to go after the bowlers and it can get difficult when people get into a groove and when a side has momentum it can be very difficult to stop them."
Also Read: Virat Kohli rues missed chances as South Africa keep series alive
The India skipper also gave credit to South Africa for the way they went about their run chase. "Especially David Miller and their wicket keeper (Heinrich Klaasen) batted very well. When we got AB I thought we were in the game, but those two guys took the game away from us," he said.
The Indians also had themselves to blame as Miller was given two lives - a dropped catch in the deep and then was bowled off a no ball off Yuzvendra Chahal when he was on six and seven respectively. He went on to make 39 off 28 balls. "We did not grab our chances. You have to take your chances in this game, no balls are a fine line as well. We did not deserve to win, that's the way the game goes," Kohli said. "No balls are always something that hurts you as a team, but you can't be too hard on the boys. They try their best out there in the middle and mistakes do happen," Kohli added.
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