We had enough on the board but failed in execution while bowling: Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant feels his team lacked execution with the ball despite putting enough runs on the board to suffer a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of South Africa in the first T20 on Thursday. After putting on a huge 211 for four riding on Ishan Kishan's 76, the Indian bowlers cut a sorry figure as South Africa achieved their highest T20 run-chase to end India's 12-match winning streak in the format. Rassie van der Dussen (75 not out) and David Miller (64 not out) shared unbeaten 131 runs for the fourth wicket to hand the visitors an easy win.

Read AlsoIndia vs South Africa 1st T20I: David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen fire South Africa to seven-wicket win over India

For the first 30 overs of the first T20I, Rishabh Pant would have believed that his first game as India captain was a perfect one. Then David Miller happened. Needing 126 runs in 10 overs to chase down the 212-run target set by India, Miller and Rassie van der Dussen finished with an unbeaten

"I think we had enough on the board but were off with our execution, but credit to the opposition," Pant said at the post-match press conference. "We thought the slower one was working when we were batting but it became easier in the second innings. We were very happy with the total but next time we are in a similar situation we will do better." South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma was full of praise for Van der Dussen and Miller. "That was a proper batting display. David (Miller) carried his form, properly supported by Rassie (van der Dussen). It was a good wicket, probably reading the situation better and (corrections needed) going to the death options earlier and taking away the boundary balls.

"We have a lot of belief on Rassie. He takes it slowly and takes it on at the