'We have not bowled well at the death in the last five or six games.'
Rohit Sharma admitted that T20 contests are pretty much settled during the death overs and India skipper wants a better execution of plans from his bowlers, though he is not overly worried about his team's consistent struggle at that crucial stage of the match.
Put into bat, India posted a mammoth 237/3 in the second T20 against South Africa on Sunday but the visitors staged a grand comeback in the late overs to took the game deep before eventually falling short by 16 runs.
India's bowlers once again struggled in the death overs, with 57 coming from the last three overs. Arshdeep Singh, who conceded 26 runs in the 19th over, registered expensive figures of 2/62 in his four overs. Harshal Patel als struggled with his control as he gave away 45 runs, while Axar Patel was hit for 53 runs.
"The team wants to play and bowl in a certain way and we want to give them that confidence. Yes, we have not bowled well at the death in the last five or six games. We are doing the same to the opposition as well," Rohit said after the match.
"To bowl and bat at the death is very tough. That is where the game is decided. It is not concerning, but we need to pick ourselves and get our act together."
India's top four batters once again came up with splendid effort and Rohit said they would look to continue their ultra-aggressive approach.
"It is something that all of came together and said was what we wanted to do as a team. It might not come across at times, but we want to stick to it," he said.
"What I have seen in the last 8-10 months is individuals putting their hand up and getting the job done for the team. Guys without too much experience did this as well."
A disappointed South Africa captain Temba Bavuma put the blame on his bowlers.
"It wasn't our best performance, the conditions were different. We couldn't execute our plans. Late with the bat, I thought we could have given it a good go with 220 but 240 was too high," he said.
For South Africa, David Miller yet again put on display his big-hitting prowess with a 47-ball 106 not out, studded with eight fours and seven sixes.
"Miller was looking good, lot of confidence to be taken from his performance. The conditions were tough, we tried to get it swinging the ball early. But when it reduced, we saw how easy it was," the South Africa skipper said.
India will next take on South Africa in the inconsequential third and final T20I in Indore, on Tuesday, October 4.
