Former Indian cricket group all-rounder Irfan Pathan was all reward for KL Rahul for his captaincy following India’s historic ODI collection victory over South Africa on Thursday. India beat South Africa within the series-decider by 78 runs as Rahul grew to become the second India skipper ever to win an ODI collection on South African soil. Pathan identified that Rahul has been having a superb 2023 – each as skipper and batter – and talked about the large file that the cricketer achieved as captain of the Indian cricket group.

“And what a year KL Rahul is having, nearly an average of 70 with bat in hand. As only the 2nd Indian captain to win a series on the South African soil.” Irfan posted on X (previously referred to as Twitter).

Rahul praised his group of younger gamers after Sanju Samson hit a maiden worldwide century and arrange a series-deciding win for India in opposition to South Africa within the third one-day worldwide in Paarl.

Samson made 108 in an Indian whole of 296 for eight at Boland Park.

And what a yr @klrahul is having almost a median of 70 with bat in hand. As solely the 2nd Indian captain to win a collection on the South African soil.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 22, 2023

South African captain Aiden Markram‘s determination to ship India in to bat on a gradual pitch on a scorching afternoon backfired because the hosts had been bowled out for 218 in reply.

India arrived in South Africa with out many of the gamers who took the nation to the World Cup remaining final month. But they gained two of the three matches in convincing style.

“It’s a really young group of players,” Rahul stated on the post-match presentation. “They have played a lot of cricket but not at international level.

“The message was to allow them to modify to worldwide cricket and allow them to get used to the stress. Have enjoyable initially and after a number of video games begin anticipating issues from them.”

Left-arm opening bowler Arshdeep Singh rose to the challenge spectacularly. He took 10 wickets in the series, including four for 30 on Thursday, and was named player of the series.

South Africa were well-placed when Tony de Zorzi (87) and Markram (36) put on 65 for the third wicket to take the total to 141 in the 26th over.

But the innings fell away when Markram gloved an attempted reverse sweep off Washington Sundar to wicketkeeper Rahul and De Zorzi was leg before wicket to Arshdeep 20 runs later.

Former international players in the commentary box were surprised at Markram’s decision to bowl first but Markram said he didn’t believe it influenced the result.

“We had been good in small patches,” he said. “I nonetheless do not suppose the floor modified a lot.”

Samson summed up the conditions well, batting patiently as stroke-making became challenging when the two white balls lost their hardness.

Samson and Tilak Varma (52) took 88 balls to post a fifty partnership for the fourth wicket but they picked up the pace and eventually added 116 off 136 balls.

Samson made his runs off 114 balls with six fours and three sixes.

The foundation laid by Samson and Varma enabled India’s lower order batsmen to score rapidly towards the end of the innings, with 51 runs scored off the last five overs.

(With AFP inputs)