New Delhi, Nov 30 (NationPress) Former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan believes that the Indian batsmen approached their match against South Africa with a determined mindset, eager to make up for their recent defeat in the two-match Test series against the same team. India set a challenging target of 350 runs in their first innings, with a remarkable century from Virat Kohli and notable half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul.

In an exclusive conversation with IANS regarding India's strategy in the match, Wassan emphasized the need for the team to perform well given their high rankings. He suggested that the Men in Blue felt 'frustrated' after their Test match loss, which they aimed to express during the ODIs, and they succeeded as a collective unit.

“They must deliver strong innings; they are capable players, and they need to excel. I think there is now a standardized approach in ODIs. If we delve into each player's innings, we'll be here all day. Regarding Virat, after scoring a century and following the recent Test defeats to South Africa, it feels like the situation of an embarrassed cat scratching a pole, as the saying goes. India is frustrated. After the Test match loss, they sought to fully express that frustration in this game, and the entire squad performed admirably with the bat,” Wassan remarked.

The 57-year-old lauded South Africa's resolve, stating that they can no longer be labeled as 'chokers' as they once were. He particularly commended Temba Bavuma, noting that the team's impressive performance on the significant stage is largely due to the confidence Bavuma has instilled in his players.

“South Africa has shed the 'choker' label. Even though they may lack the star power of previous eras, they now possess the belief that they can win. Their captain is a standout player who has fostered this winning mentality. While talent is abundant, developing a winning habit is quite challenging,” he added.