The moment of drama arrived when Aiden Markram was on 53. The second ball of the 18th over saw Jaiswal misjudge a regulation catch at long-on off Kuldeep Yadav.
Had that wicket fallen, India could have exposed South Africa’s middle order under pressure. Instead, Markram went on to score 110 off 98 balls, anchoring one of the most calculated run chases against India in ODIs.
Did Dew and Fielding’s Sloppiness Hurt India More Than One Drop?
While Jaiswal’s drop was an aberration, India’s fielding otherwise collapsed under the heavy dew. A wet ball ensured less grip, less effective spin and yorkers turning into low full tosses.
Several misfields and fumbles leaked runs at critical junctures. The Indian bowlers never managed any semblance of control, allowing South Africa’s batters to maintain the asking rate within reach throughout the innings.
Did Gavaskar blame Jaiswal?
When asked if the drop cost India the match, Sunil Gavaskar called an end to the narrative straightaway.
He stressed the fact that a single mistake does not define a 50-over game while highlighting South Africa’s incredibly skilled batting performance: smartly built partnerships, thoughtfully taken risks, and pressure handled maturely.
He said blaming one player for it all oversimplifies a much deeper issue.
Was 358 really not enough on this Raipur pitch?
Despite posting 358/5, India fell short because of:
- The difficult bowling conditions created by the dew
- Lack of penetration from both pacers and spinners
- Poor finishing at the death
- A clinical middle-order performance from the visitors
An even bigger total seemed insufficient as the ball didn’t grip, and bowlers didn’t respond well under pressure.
Did India’s Other Mistakes Outweigh the Drop?
Quite so.
- India missed yorkers in the crunch overs
- Field placements were reactive rather than proactive
- Spinners became predictable
- Momentum slipped away with each misfield.
Jaiswal’s drop was a moment, but India’s defeat was the result of many small cracks widening simultaneously.
