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'I Am Afraid That..'- Shaun Pollock Lashes Out At SA For Horrendous Defeat In Jo'Burg ODI

image-lqapcjnmSouth Africa were crushed by India in the 1st ODI in Jo'Burg [AP]

In a gripping encounter at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, India asserted their dominance over South Africa in the first ODI, securing an emphatic eight-wicket victory. However, the match didn't just witness India's triumph; it also sparked sharp criticism from cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Shaun Pollock as they scrutinised South Africa's lacklustre performance.

Batting Collapse and Bowling Woes Raise Concerns

Legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar questioned the mindset of the South African players, expressing concerns about their carefree approach despite the formidable bowling display by India's Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan. 

Gavaskar highlighted a shift in player mentality, attributing it to the abundance of T20 opportunities, unlike his era, where failure meant returning to less lucrative club cricket.

"In our days, we didn't have a lot of options. We had to return to club cricket if we didn't succeed. Furthermore, club cricket at the time was unpaid. Players have choices these days. You can still put food on the table even though you play T20 leagues and represent your country," Gavaskar emphasised on Star Sports. 

Echoing Gavaskar's sentiments, former South African pacer Shaun Pollock criticised both the bowling and batting units of the Proteas. 

Renowned for his aggressive playing style, Shaun Pollock conveyed his dismay over South Africa's bowling strategy, characterising it as more defensive than attacking.

"Being a fast bowler and representing South Africa for such a long time, it has always been in our DNA to field a team that includes fast bowlers capable of winning a match on their own. I’m afraid that the bowling attack I saw there in the first 10-12 overs was a little bit more of a bowling defence than a bowling attack," Pollock said on Star Sports.

The second ODI is scheduled at St. George's Park in Port Elizabeth on 19 December. The Proteas will look to rectify their mistakes and come back stronger against an Indian side brimming with confidence after the comprehensive victory.

India's young sensation, Sai Sudharsan, made a memorable debut for the national team, scoring an unbeaten 55 runs off 43 balls in the first ODI.