AB de Villiers believes that India missed Ashwin

AB de Villiers led his team by example and guided the Proteas to their first ODI series win in India

South African captain AB de Villiers believed that one of the main reasons for India's loss in the final ODI at Mumbai was because of the absence of key spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin had to be rested after the first ODI at Kanpur after he suffered a side strain.

India lost the series 3-2 after a 214-run loss in the fifth and final ODI. The series win was South Africa's first ever bilateral series win in India. The Proteas put in an all-round performance to clinch the ODI series after earlier having won the T20 series 2-0.

According to a report on NDTV, De Villiers was speaking to the media after the fifth ODI in Mumbai. The South African captain scored his third century of the ODI series and helped his side to a mammoth total of 438 in 50 overs.

“India did miss Ashwin in the later part of the series. He is a champion bowler. But I think injuries do happen in the game... as we missed Morne Morkel in the later part of the series,” De Villiers said.

De Villiers was particularly happy with his team's all-round performance with the bat and ball. Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock and De Villiers scored centuries to ensure India had their task cut out for them. It was only the second time in ODI history that three players scored centuries in an ODI innings.

The captain felt that the century scored by Du Plessis was the best of the lot as he had to play the anchor role and allow his fellow centurions to play their natural games.

“Faf came in at a time when the Indian spinners were getting some spin out of the pitch. He didn't get the appreciation he deserved. The knock he played I felt was best among the other hundreds,” De Villiers said.

Kagiso Rabada has been a revelation for the Proteas on this Indian tour, and De Villiers showered praises on the youngster's impact on the T20 and ODI series wins. The youngster, along with Dale Steyn, were the highest wicket-takers in the ODI series with ten wickets each.

“And KG is another one that is knocking on the door of greatness in future. He knows he has got hard work ahead and a lot of battles to go through, a lot of form changes. There is a lot of talent there, a great mind on his shoulders and easy to work with,” he said.

Indian fans all over the country have not been shy from showing their love for the De Villiers in the series, cheering him on at every venue played so far. De Villiers recognised the fact and expressed his gratitude for all the appreciation he has rightly receiving.

“It is a great privilege and an honour to be playing front of big crowds in India. I always tell my teammates to enjoy it. It's not always about the result but really enjoying ourselves and representing our country in the best manner,” De Villiers said.