Not getting the old ball to reverse has hurt South Africa, says Rabada
"We've been put under immense pressure," Rabada said ahead of the final Test, which begins on Saturday, 19 October, in Ranchi. "I don't know if we can be put under more pressure than that."
In both the Tests, India put South Africa under a pile of runs – 502/7d and 601/5d – in the first innings, with the tourists' bowling attack proving ineffective. India triumphed in both the Tests by big margins to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
"It was always going to be a difficult challenge taking on the top team in the world - certainly under their own conditions - in India at a time when we have introduced a new team structure."https://t.co/AbWByJJUGf
— ICC (@ICC) October 15, 2019
Rabada, who has accounted for just four wickets in the two Tests, said that South Africa's pacers lacked a major element – reverse swing.
"They [India] got the ball to reverse and they bowled well as a collective," Rabada said. "Their whole attack put pressure on us in every single aspect. Their spinners bowled well, and when the ball was reversing, their seamers could exploit that. We didn't really get the ball to reverse, and that's a major weapon of ours."
ICYMI:
— ICC (@ICC) October 14, 2019
India beat South Africa by an innings to take the series with a match to spare. https://t.co/8usjoD4eaO
With South Africa's Test team looking to fill the gaps left by the retirements of Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, Rabada called on the team's youngsters to take the onus.
"It's never nice to lose, especially in the manner we're losing right now, but we're going through a transition period," he said. "Our team is fresh and young, so the best thing we can do is look at where we can improve, and remember our strengths and build on them."