India needed 15-20 more runs to win but fell short against South Africa after a strong start and solid lower-order batting.
The match saw India starting strongly, with Shafali Verma scoring 34 off 20 balls. However, two quick wickets in consecutive overs—Verma and Smriti Mandhana—slowed the momentum. Harmanpreet Kaur and Rodrigues then rebuilt the innings with a 71-run partnership in 51 balls. Despite Harmanpreet finishing unbeaten on 47 off 33 balls, the lower-order batters couldn't capitalize enough, leaving the team 15-20 runs short of the target.
Rodrigues admitted that when the time came to accelerate the scoring, they failed to capitalize. She mentioned that the wicket had slight hold in the first innings, making batting tricky. Rodrigues was dismissed in the 15th over by Tumi Sekhukhune, leaving India at 119 for 3. She expressed frustration at getting out at the wrong moment, noting that set batters have an easier time taking the innings deeper.
South Africa's bowlers, particularly Shreyanka Patil and N Shree Charani, performed well to keep the game close until the final over. Rodrigues praised their efforts but stressed the need for better execution from her team. She believes that with improved performance, India will return stronger in the next match. The bowlers' ability to restrict South Africa to a tight finish was a positive takeaway.
Rodrigues highlighted that the pitch conditions were consistent, with slight turn and hold expected in both innings. This consistency reduces the impact of the toss, giving India a clearer game plan. She emphasized the importance of using South Africa as preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup in England and Wales. The series also provided match time for allrounders, who will play a key role in the World Cup.
India, the ODI world champions, have struggled against top-ranked sides like Australia, England, and South Africa in the last 12 months, losing four out of nine games. Their overall record stands at 10 wins and 4 losses in this period, aided by a 5-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka at home in December 2025. Rodrigues stressed the need for batting consistency till the end and better match experience for allrounders before the T20 World Cup.