IND v SA T20I: “I had to make India pay for it,” Rassie van der Dussen makes a bold statement against Indian team

South Africa beat India in the first T20I match of the five-match series on June 9 (Thursday) at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, with Rassie van der Dussen top-scoring with 75*.

David Miller and Van der Dussen put together a match-winning unbroken 131-run combination after losing their top three for 81 runs in the first day of the five-match T20I series against India at Arun Jaitley stadium on Thursday.

Earlier in the innings, Van der Dussen battled to get going, scoring just 29 runs in his very first 30 deliveries. Shreyas Iyer dropped him at 29, and the South African added later that he felt he will have to make India pay for said missed catch.

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“I took a good few balls to get in and it was a wicket that got a lot easier once you were in. It was tough to get yourself set. I knew I was in and I had to make them pay,” said van der Dussen in the post match presentation. He further said, “I did put myself and the team under pressure by not being able to hit early boundaries. Sometimes (your approach) just doesn’t come off and other days it does. Some days you’re lucky, others you’re not. And tonight I was lucky.”

Rassie Van der Dussen (71 not out off 45 balls) and Miller (64 not out off 31 balls) put up an undefeated 131-run partnership to chase down a difficult 212-run mark with incredible ease with five balls to go.

With the support of Ishan Kishan (76 off 48 balls), new skipper Rishabh Pant (29 off 16), and Hardik Pandya, India reached a commanding 211 for four (31 off 12). The Indians, although, were beaten by the skill of Miller and van der Dussen, who played with the opposition’s assault.