India vs South Africa 2nd Test Match Preview & Playing XI
India face South Africa in 2nd Test at Guwahati, with SA favorites after Kolkata win as Pant leads a changed Indian side.
India and South Africa meet in the 2nd and final Test at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on November 22. This will be the first Test ever at this venue, which has hosted only white-ball games so far. The match starts at 9.00 am IST.
India come into this game after losing the Kolkata Test. They are now fourth in the WTC standings and this is already their third series of the cycle. South Africa have more control. They drew their last series against Pakistan and a win or even a draw here will seal this one.
Rishabh Pant will lead India because Shubman Gill is injured. India may also add Nitish Kumar Reddy to the XI to strengthen the lower order. Pant knows he must bat better and help the top order settle. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal will again be important at the start. Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah are the main players India will depend on to steady the bowling.
South Africa look calm and balanced. Temba Bavuma was strong at Eden Gardens and will try to repeat that in Guwahati. Aiden Markram’s form also makes a difference at the top. Their likely XI has good mix, with Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj ready to test India’s spin play.
India and South Africa have played 45 Tests. India have won 16, lost 19 and drawn 10. That history shows how tight their battles often are.
What to Expect From Guwahati Test
Barsapara usually gives pace bowlers some help in the first session. Batting gets easier later, but spinners come in from Day 3. This should make the match more open than the turning track in Kolkata.
India’s probable XI: Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Pant (c, wk), Jurel, Jadeja, Sundar, Reddy, Kuldeep, Siraj, Bumrah.
South Africa’s probable XI: Markram, Rickelton, Bavuma (c), de Zorzi, Stubbs, Verreynne (wk), Harmer, Maharaj, Jansen, Bosch.
South Africa are slight favorites. They look settled and are likely to play the same team. India may change players after poor spin play in Kolkata. Guwahati should offer better batting, but India must start well to stay alive in the series.
