Losing wickets in a heap did us in: Kohli

Cape Town, Jan. 8: India captain Virat Kohli blamed losing wickets in a heap as one of the biggest reasons for their 72-run defeat against South Africa in the first Test here. “Well in hindsight, we lost by 70-odd, if we had taken chances in the first innings, they would have been 220,” said Kohli.

“Losing wickets in bunches we something have to plug in. We were in the game for the three days and it was a wonderful match to be part of. We would have taken that if someone told 208 would be the target,” the captain was honest in his admission.

Kohli felt India needed a batsman to score a 70 or 80 in the second innings. “It was a great effort but we needed someone to get a 75 or 80. 20s or 30s were not enough. They were a bowler short (Dale Steyn) but they pitched the balls in the right areas and bowled their hearts out. We need to rectify our mistakes also.”

Not having a single big partnership (save Bhuvneshwar KumarHardik Pandya’s 99 for 8th wicket in the first innings) is something to worry about for the team. “This game is all about partnerships, and crucial runs, and they did better. The bowlers learnt pretty quickly and did well in the second innings. We are still feeling good about how we went about this Test match. The mindset really matters when you travel away from home. You need to be positive in defence and leaving, and cash in on scoring,” the straight-talking skipper said.

He was all praise for Pandya, whose 93 was a face-saver in the first innings. — PTI South Africa (1st innings): 286 India (1st innings): 209 South Africa (2nd innings): A. Markram c Kumar b Pandya 34, D. Elgar c Saha b Pandya 25, K. Rabada c Kohli b Mohammed Shami 5, H. Amla c Sharma b Mohammed Shami 4, A. de Villiers c Kumar b Bumrah 35, F. du Plessis c Saha b Bumrah 0, Q. de Kock c Saha b Bumrah 8, V. Philander lbw b Mohammed Shami 0, K. Maharaj c Saha b Kumar 15, M. Morkel c Saha b Kumar 2, D. Steyn not out 0. Extras (w2) 2. Total (in 41.2 overs) 130. FoW: 1-52, 2-59, 3-66, 4-73, 5-82, 6-92, 7-95, 8-122, 9130. Bowling: Kumar 11-5-33-2, Bumrah 11.2-1-39-3, Mohammed Shami 12-3-28-2, Pandya 6-0-27-2, Ashwin 1-0-3-0. India (2nd innings): M. Vijay c De Villiers b Philander 13, S. Dhawan c sub (Morris) b Morkel 16, C. Pujara c De Kock b Morkel 4, V. Kohli lbw b Philander 28, R. Sharma b Philander 10, W. Saha lbw b Rabada 8, H. Pandya c De Villiers b Rabada 1, R. Ashwin c De Kock b Philander 37, B. Kumar (not out) 13, Mohammed Shami c Du Plessis b Philander 4, J. Bumrah c Du Plessis b Philander 0. Extras (lb1) 1. Total (in 42.4 overs) 135. FoW: 1-30, 2-30, 3-39, 4-71, 576, 6-77, 7-82, 8-131, 9-135. Bowling: Philander 15.4-4-42-6, Morkel 11-1-39-2, Rabada 12-241-2, Maharaj 4-1-12-0.