New Delhi, Dec 13 (NationPress) Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa offered a comprehensive analysis of the recently held second T20I in Mullanpur, commending South Africa's all-around proficiency while critiquing India's lack of defined batting roles during significant run chases.

India's approach to batting flexibility faced criticism after they fell short in a demanding run chase against the Proteas, allowing the visitors to equalize the five-match series at 1-1.

Reflecting on South Africa's response after losing the first match on JioHotstar's 'Follow The Blues,' Uthappa highlighted their dominance across all three facets of the game, stating, “South Africa batted and bowled brilliantly to recover from the first game. They were exceptional with the new ball on that pitch; Lungi Ngidi's delivery to Shubman Gill was a stunning ball, and the one to Abhishek Sharma restricted him on a challenging back of a length. They consistently targeted the right areas and kept India under pressure.”

“With the bat, they made a decisive statement by aggressively targeting India's top bowlers, including Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, right from the outset. Quinton de Kock was outstanding, forming solid partnerships with Aiden Markram, running excellently with Dewald Brevis, and maintaining a high tempo by scoring in his preferred areas. Donovan Ferreira and David Miller finished the innings with style. It was an all-around performance from South Africa, and on a rare off day for Bumrah and Arshdeep, they outperformed India in every department,” he added.

India's run chase lost momentum after early wickets fell, but Uthappa believes the main concern lay in the construction of the innings once Shubman Gill was dismissed, especially given the depth of India's batting lineup.

“You can lose early wickets, but the real issue for me was the batting strategy after Shubman Gill's dismissal. If Axar Patel comes in at that point with such a deep batting order, he needs to play as a pinch-hitter—someone you are willing to risk early for quick runs to relieve pressure from Abhishek Sharma. Instead, his 21 off 21 didn’t effectively achieve that, and as wickets fell around him, he had to change his method and slow down, which hampered the chase,” he mentioned.

The former opener stressed the need for clearly defined roles for batters in international cricket, particularly when pursuing a substantial target.

“At the international level, batters must have clearly defined roles and a strong understanding of how to build their innings. Flexibility with match-ups after the first six to eight overs is acceptable, but a solid foundation is essential before attempting to chase a large score—you can’t construct a skyscraper without a strong base,” he emphasized.

Uthappa concluded by cautioning against excessive tactical fluidity too early in an innings, as it can complicate decision-making and scoring patterns. He stated, “Asking players to prepare for various roles in the same game complicates run-scoring, and that's where India is missing a trick. I don't support being overly flexible too early in the innings, beyond the openers.”