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After India’s defeat against South Africa, skipper Kl Rahul opens up on how the toss and crucial moments cost his side.

India skipper KL Rahul said his side needed to be sharper in key moments but felt the toss played a decisive role in the home team’s four-wicket loss to South Africa in the second ODI here on Tuesday.

Asked to bat first, India rode on centuries from Virat Kohli (102 off 93 balls), his 53rd ODI hundred, and Ruturaj Gaikwad (105 off 83 balls), who notched up his maiden ton in the format, to post an imposing 358 for five.

South Africa, however, gunned down the target with remarkable authority, finishing at 362 for six in 49.2 overs, courtesy a superb century from Aiden Markram (110) and fifties from Matthew Breetzke (68) and Dewald Brevis (54).

“Not really a (tough one to swallow) given how much dew there is and how difficult it is to bowl in the second innings,” Rahul said at the post-match presentation after losing the toss for the second straight game in the series.

“Thought we did well in the last game. Today the umpires were nice to change the ball. Toss plays a big role so I’m kicking myself (laughs).”

Rahul admitted there were areas where India could have done better.

“With the bat, I know that 350 looks good, but that has been the chat in the dressing room even after the last game about how we can get the extra 20-25 runs to give bowlers a cushion with the wet ball,” he said.

The India skipper also praised Kohli and Gaikwad for their top-order brilliance.

“It was beautiful to watch Rutu and the way he batted. Virat, we have seen him do it 55 times, or 53. He just goes about doing his job. It was beautiful watching Rutu bat, the way he picked up the tempo after reaching his fifty.”

Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad created history in the second ODI against South Africa on Wednesday. The pair shared a 195-run stand for the third wicket, which is India’s highest partnership for any wicket in ODI cricket against South Africa.

The Kohli-Gaikwad pair broke the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik, who added 194 runs for the second wicket against South Africa in Gwalior on February 24, 2010.

In the match being played in Raipur, Virat Kohli scored 102 runs off 93 balls, hitting 2 sixes and 7 fours. This was the 53rd century of his ODI career. Ruturaj Gaikwad, meanwhile, was dismissed after scoring 105 runs off 83 balls with 2 sixes and 12 fours.

Ruturaj Gaikwad completed his century in 77 balls. This was the second-fastest ODI century by an Indian batsman against South Africa. The list is topped by Yusuf Pathan, who scored a century in just 68 balls during the 2011 ODI against South Africa in Centurion.

( With PTI Inputs )