India vs South Africa: Ravichandran Ashwin's Services Missed Immensely, Says Mahendra Singh Dhoni

India had taken control for most of the Kanpur ODI. They had kept the South African batsmen in check and the bowlers maintained their discipline. However, as the match progressed, India were hit with bad luck. It was a moment that eventually changed the course of the match. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni also admitted that this moment changed the outcome.(Match Report | Scorecard | Highlights)

Playing in his 100th ODI, Ravichandran Ashwin started off brilliantly by getting rid of Quinton de Kock for 29 with the fourth ball of his first over. The delivery was classic, drifting in to leg and spinning away sharply to get the edge of De Kock. South Africa were preparing themselves to be tormented by Ashwin. However, Dhoni surprisingly held him back as the other bowlers wheeled away. India had kept South Africa to 138/2 in 29 overs before the off-spinner came back for his second spell in the 30th over. (Ashwin Injured)

Ashwin gave away five runs as India looked to tighten the noose. However, disaster struck in the 32nd over. In the second ball of his third over, AB de Villiers drove a flighted delivery to the right of the bowler. In a moment of rare athleticism, Ashwin dived full length and stopped the batsman from taking a run. He got up and immediately winced in pain as he held his left side. He bowled one more ball and went off the field.

The Indian camp was starting to get a bit worried. After being out of the field for 25 minutes, he came back but managed to bowl only one more over to go off the field. Reports emerged that he had suffered a left side strain and would be unable to bowl in the match. His absence totally demoralised India and South Africa capitalised on it.

Ashwin's absence meant that India's fifth bowling options, Suresh Raina and Stuart Binny, were given more overs and Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted that Ashwin's services at the end were missed immensely.

"We missed Ashwin's six overs that was crucial because he was our best spinner. Until that point, the plan was working beautifully but I had to get more overs from Binny and Raina," Dhoni said in the post match presentation.

Before Ashwin's injury, India had done a great job in limiting South Africa to 147/2 in the 32nd over. After his injury, India let the leash slip and in the last six overs, they conceded 86 runs.

The turning point was the 45th over bowled by Binny. He was slammed for a six second ball by JP Duminy but De Villiers added more pain when he smashed him for two fours and a six. India lost the plot and in the last three overs, they gave away 13,19 and 21 runs respectively. Dhoni remarked that the performance of the bowlers was also not up to the mark.

"I thought our bowlers should have done a bit better. There was some reverse swing on offer but they did not exploit it," Dhoni stated.

The Indian skipper continued to struggle with the bat and towards the end, he could not find the fence. In his knock of 31 from 30 balls, he found the fence only once and in the last over, he failed to make connection. Dhoni said the wicket was two-paced and it made hitting big shots difficult.

"The ball was not coming at a good height so it becomes difficult on such a wicket. It was a bit two paced once the ball got scuffed. A lot depended on the execution part. It was not only about the boundaries but one had to keep the scoreboard ticking," Dhoni said.

India are down 0-1 in the series and they already have a lot of questions. The death bowling was woeful while Dhoni's finishing abilities seemed to have deserted him. Ashwin's injury and his reported absence from the series will have a major impact on India's chances. The heat is truly on Dhoni.