Deepak Chahar was disappointed after losing the match
In the final ODI, India had a chance to avoid a whitewash but fell short by just 4 runs, leaving fans heartbroken. Chasing the target, the team needed only 6 runs from the final over but couldn’t get over the line. Despite having wickets in hand and looking in control at times, India failed to finish strong. This narrow loss summed up the team’s struggles early in the year, as they missed a golden chance to end the series on a winning note.
The sun was shining bright over Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on January 23, 2022, as South Africa took on India in the third ODI of a series they had already wrapped up. With a 3-0 sweep in their sights, South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma, called the toss right and chose to bat, hoping to pile on runs and set a steep challenge. India, bruised from two losses, were desperate to claw back some pride and avoid a whitewash.
The game kicked off with South Africa’s openers, Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan, striding out to face India’s pace attack of Jasprit Bumrah and Deepak Chahar. De Kock was pure class from the get-go, mixing caution with his natural swagger to anchor the innings. His 124 runs off 130 balls, studded with 12 fours and 2 sixes, was the kind of knock that makes fans sit up and take notice. He started slow, feeling out the bowlers, picking singles and nudging the ball into gaps with surgical precision. By the 59th ball, he notched his fifty, and as he grew more comfortable, he let loose, crisp drives, cheeky late cuts, and a couple of towering sixes. His century, reached in 108 balls with a gorgeous lofted cover drive, sent the Newlands crowd roaring. Even when wickets fell around him, de Kock kept his cool, keeping the scoreboard ticking and pouncing on anything loose.
Malan, though, had a day to forget. Up against Chahar’s nagging line, he scratched out just 1 run off 6 balls before nicking one to Rishabh Pant in the second over. The catch, low and sharp, gave India a dream start, leaving South Africa at 8 for 1. The crowd was quiet, and India’s bowlers were pumped. Temba Bavuma walked in, looking to settle things down, but he lasted just 12 balls, scoring 8 runs with a single four before a mix-up with de Kock led to a run-out in the sixth over. A moment’s hesitation, and Bavuma was gone, leaving South Africa wobbling at 34 for 2. India were all over them, fielders buzzing like they could smell blood.
Aiden Markram came in with fire in his eyes, smashing 15 runs off 14 balls with three cracking fours. He looked ready to take the attack to India, but Chahar struck again in the 12th over, tempting him into an edge that substitute fielder Ruturaj Gaikwad snapped up with a diving grab. At 70 for 3, South Africa were in deep trouble. Then came the game’s first big turning point: Rassie van der Dussen joined de Kock, and the two put on a stunning 144-run stand for the fourth wicket. Van der Dussen’s 52 off 59 balls, with 4 fours and a six, was the perfect counterpoint to de Kock’s flair. He played with calm focus, rotating the strike and picking his moments to attack, letting de Kock do the heavy lifting. Together, they pushed South Africa past 100 in the 19th over and 150 in the 27th, rebuilding the innings with a mix of quick singles and timely boundaries.
De Kock’s century, celebrated in the 30th over with a lofted drive, had the crowd on its feet. At 170 for 3, South Africa were cruising, but India weren’t done. Jasprit Bumrah, their pace ace, broke through in the 35th over, getting de Kock caught by Shikhar Dhawan for 124, leaving them at 214 for 4. Van der Dussen fell soon after, nicking Yuzvendra Chahal to Shreyas Iyer in the 36th over. At 218 for 5, South Africa needed someone to keep the fire burning, and David Miller answered the call. His 39 off 38 balls, with 3 fours and a six, was a vital late burst, keeping the run rate up and ensuring the innings didn’t stall.
The last 10 overs saw India tighten the screws. Andile Phehlukwayo managed just 4 runs off 11 balls before a mix-up led to his run-out, thanks to sharp work from Pant and Iyer. Dwaine Pretorius chipped in with 20 off 25 balls, hitting 3 fours, but Prasidh Krishna got him in the 47th over. Krishna was India’s star with the ball, finishing with 3 for 59 in 9.5 overs, his pace and bounce causing havoc. Keshav Maharaj blasted a quick 6 off 5 balls but fell to Bumrah in the 48th over. Sisanda Magala went for a duck, and Miller’s dismissal in the 49th over wrapped things up. South Africa were all out for 287 in 49.5 overs, with extras, 13 wides, 3 no-balls, and 2 leg-byes, adding 18 runs. De Kock’s century, van der Dussen’s grit, and Miller’s late spark had given South Africa a fighting total.
India’s chase began with KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan facing South Africa’s opening bowlers, Lungi Ngidi and Sisanda Magala. Rahul looked in fine touch, scoring 9 runs off 10 balls with 2 fours, but Ngidi struck in the fourth over, getting him caught by Malan. At 18 for 1, India needed a partnership, and Dhawan and Virat Kohli stepped up with a 98-run stand for the second wicket. Dhawan was all class, scoring 61 off 73 balls with 5 fours and a six, reaching his fifty in 58 balls with elegant drives and clever nudges. Kohli, steady as ever, made 65 off 84 balls with 5 fours, hitting his fifty in 63 balls with those trademark cover drives. By the 22nd over, India were 116 for 1, looking like they had the chase under control.
Then came a game-changing moment. In the 22nd over, Andile Phehlukwayo struck twice, first getting Dhawan caught by de Kock, then dismissing Pant for a duck, also caught by the keeper. India crashed to 118 for 3, and the match was wide open. Shreyas Iyer joined Kohli, adding 38 runs for the fourth wicket, with Kohli looking set to steer the chase. But Keshav Maharaj turned things around in the 31st over, getting Kohli caught by Bavuma for 65. At 156 for 4, India were under pressure. Iyer fought on, scoring 26 off 34 balls with 2 fours, but Magala got him in the 37th over, caught by Phehlukwayo, leaving India at 195 for 5.
Suryakumar Yadav brought the fight with a blazing 39 off 32 balls, including 4 fours and a six. His fearless strokes kept India alive, but Pretorius dismissed him in the 39th over, caught by Bavuma, leaving them at 210 for 6. With 78 runs needed off the last 10 overs, the chase looked tough. Then came Deepak Chahar’s heroics. His 54 off 34 balls, with 5 fours and 2 sixes, was a jaw-dropping effort from a lower-order batter. Racing to his fifty in 31 balls, Chahar took on the bowlers with fearless drives and lofted shots. Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with 12 off 15 balls, including 2 fours, and their 55-run stand for the eighth wicket brought India within touching distance.
By the 47th over, India needed just 10 runs off 12 balls. Chahar had turned the match into a thriller, but Ngidi struck, getting him caught by Pretorius. Phehlukwayo then dismissed Bumrah in the 48th over, caught by Bavuma, leaving India needing 7 runs off the last 4 balls. Yuzvendra Chahal, with 2 runs off 6 balls, couldn’t find the boundaries needed, and Pretorius sealed the win by dismissing him in the 49.2 over. India fell 4 runs short at 283, with Prasidh Krishna not out on 2. Ngidi led with 3 for 58, while Phehlukwayo’s 3 for 40 were crucial. Pretorius (2 for 54) and Maharaj (1 for 39) kept the pressure on, ensuring South Africa held firm. South Africa’s four-run victory sealed a 3-0 series sweep, a triumph of their depth and nerve. Quinton de Kock was named Player of the Match and Series for his 229 runs, with his century here the backbone of the win.