India lost the second One-Day International against South Africa by four wickets in Raipur on Wednesday, December 3. The Men in Blue failed to defend a total of 358/5, with the Proteas winning in 49.2 overs.
Earlier, Virat Kohli (102) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (105) had composed fine hundreds, but KL Rahul’s 66 not out from 43 balls took the hosts to a competitive total. South Africa were rocked early but Aiden Markram (110) and Temba Bavuma (46) shared a 101-run partnership for the second wicket.
India would pick six wickets but struggled to plug the Proteas’ runs. Other than Arshdeep Singh (2/54 in 10 overs) and Ravindra Jadeja (0/41 in seven overs), the rest of the bowlers were expensive. Prasidh Krishna ended with figures of 2/85 in 8.2 overs. Harshit Rana gave away 70 runs for one wicket in his 10 overs. Kuldeep Yadav finished with 1/78 from ten overs. And the hosts offered up 18 extras.
The supporters were dissatisfied with the team’s bowling performance and mocked them on X.
India's so-called fast bowlers have made a mockery of fast bowling
Shocking that we cannot get genuine fast bowlers in a huge country like India where everyone plays cricket
— Investing Journey with Yogesh (@invest_yogesh) December 3, 2025What can batsmen do when you have a bunch of horrible bowlers. Like I said the worst bowling attack India has seen in the near past @BCCI
— Sandeep Anand (@sandyanand75) December 3, 2025No wicket taking deliveries bowled in the death overs by india #INDvSA
Bowling only good length balls in the last four overs, very poor.,,#BCCI #goutamgambir#TeamIndia #CricketTwitter
— rs shakthi kumaran (@shakthiRs) December 3, 2025Bavuma is still undefeated on this tour. Ever since Bumrah called him ‘bauna’, he’s turned into a devta.
#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/YC5oQ08fTk
— SAHIL SAMAL ∞ (@SAHILSAMAL07) December 3, 2025So many questions after this performance. 358 was never going to be enough on this pitch, especially when you scored only 77 in the last 10 overs. Add the misfields and brainless tactics, and India once again showed why they’re just an average ODI side. #INDvsSA
— Cricbuzzer (@Cricbuzzer7) December 3, 2025Flat pitches and making 100 should not be greater things.
If team is chasing 360 ,we can understand how batting is easy.
That why in today time ODI is loosing charm.
Playing ODI is so easy if we see 90s 00 pitches were like that 300 is winning score.
Don't campare#INDvsSA
— satya vachan (@MayurYa77778150) December 3, 2025This was only the third time South Africa had successfully chased down a total of more than 350 in ODIs. It was also the joint-highest target achieved against the Men in Blue.
Bowling a concern for India ahead of the third ODI?
The series is now level at one each going to the decider. The third one-day international is on Saturday, December 6 at Visakhapatnam. The home team will now aim to put this loss behind them and take the series.
They will have to sort that out big time, though, won’t they? And the second ODI, where they had failed to defend a total of over 350 runs, was also a close contest.
They bowled South Africa out for 332 in the penultimate over and finished winners by a mere 17 runs. Bowling will certainly be a worry ahead of the final ODI. KL Rahul and his company will look to put up an improved show and draw from their Raipur experience.
