Got a 'good hiding' from India: Gibson

A disappointed South Africa coach Ottis Gibson said he has no excuses to offer for the "hiding" his depleted side has taken from a rampaging India, leaving him with a lot to think about going forward.

A 73-run win over the Proteas in the fifth one-dayer here  on Tuesday  has ensured India their first ever series victory on the South African soil across all formats.  

"You take three of your best batsmen out of any team, they will struggle and when you do it against a very strong Indian team,  it has exposed us. I've told the lads in dressing room we will not make excuses but will try and get better. We have got a good hiding from India, let us not kid ourselves about that, but it has also given us a lot of food for thought going forward," said Gibson at the post-match conference.

"I know we have been focusing on the World Cup, but I don't think the team that will go to that tournament is the one that you saw in the series," he added.

Gibson also conceded that India's wrist spin pair of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have tormented his side but felt they may not be that useful in the World Cup in England.

"I think India have two world-class spinners and they might spin it anywhere, but we have got a whole year to learn to deal with that stuff. But I don't believe it will spin that much in England," he said.

He felt his batsmen let the team down at crucial junctures in the series, particularly in the fifth match here.

"We were optimistic the series was still there to be drawn. To bowl India out for 270-odd was a great effort from the bowlers and we let ourselves down with the bat.

"You want to have a group of players who can adapt to certain conditions and play accordingly. We know we have those players but they have not produced it in this series, which is disappointing. We succumbed quite easily," the coach said.

South Africa managed to restrict India under 300 for the second game running, but 275 proved to be a tall ask with the Indian wrist-spinners coming back to form once again. This was despite Hashim Amla's anchoring 71-run knock. But once he was run out, the Proteas collapsed again.

"We were 50 for none and lost a wicket with four balls to go in Power Play to Jasprit Bumrah who has been their best fast bowler all summer. We lost a couple more shortly thereafter and that set us back.