India are taking on South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati in the second Test of the two-match series. Guwahati thus becomes India’s latest Test venue. The hosts are 1-0 down in the series, having lost to the Proteas inside three days in Kolkata on a rank turner. Another defeat would see them losing the series 2-0, having already been drubbed 3-0 by New Zealand last year. India are without their regular skipper Shubman Gill for the must-win contest. Vice-captain Rishabh Pant thus becomes India’s 38th Test captain. Gill faced only three balls in Kolkata before retiring hurt due to a neck injury. In his absence for the rest of the Test, Pant took over as stand-in captain. However, leading a side in a Test from the start would be an entirely different challenge. The pitch in Guwahati will be in focus after the spin-friendly surface in Kolkata backfired on the hosts. India’s inability to survive against off spinner Simon Harmer came under the scanner. In short, there are multiple challenges for the hosts to tackle in the Guwahati Test. India vs South Africa 2nd Test toss result South Africa have won the toss and have opted to bat first. Temba Bavuma said: “We got to start afresh (after Kolkata win). This wicket looks a lot better, so we want to put up a big score. No cracks as such on the pitch.” The Proteas have made one change. Senuran Muthusamy comes in for Corbin Bosch. For India, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Sai Sudharsan come in for Axar Patel and Gill. IND vs SA 2nd Test Match Playing XIs India: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (w), Marco Jansen, Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj IND vs SA 2nd Test Match Pitch report “Batting first is a better choice for the captain winning the toss. There’s a little bit of moisture. There will be some seam moment. There is a decent covering of grass as well, but it won’t be as difficult as Kolkata. It is a typical Test match pitch.” Anil Kumble IND vs SA 2nd Test match player list India squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Akash Deep, Devdutt Padikkal South Africa squad: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Zubayr Hamza, Dewald Brevis IND vs SA 2nd Test Match umpires On-field umpires: Richard Kettleborough, Rod Tucker TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney Match Referee: Richie Richardson.
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