India vs South Africa: 2nd Test Can India Draw The Series?

Cricket

India vs South Africa: In the first test of the two-Test series, South Africa embarrassed Team India, losing by an innings and 32 runs in just three days. The Proteas took an insurmountable 1-0 lead thanks to their clinical and dominant play. They face formidable opposition at home, and considering how pathetic India was in the opening Test, the home team is the clear favorite going into this match.

The 2nd Test match between India vs South Africa will take place on January 3rd, 2024, at Newlands Cricket Ground.

Match Details to Note:

Match: India vs South Africa, 2nd Test match

Date: January 3rd, 2024 (Wednesday)

Time: 01:30 PM IST

Venue: Newlands Cricket Ground.

India vs South Africa

India (Match Odds- 2.15)

Preview

Team India would prefer to quickly forget how they performed in the opening Test. With the exception of KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, and Virat Kohli, nobody else was able to have an effect. The majority of batters had no solutions while playing on a track like this, and the bowlers were listless.

Rabada thoroughly outclassed Rohit Sharma in both innings, who appeared utterly out of sorts. The fact that India’s youthful batters lacked the necessary endurance to prevail is even more concerning. Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer, among others, must perform better if India is to avoid suffering yet another heartbreaking loss.

KL Rahul scored the highest for India in the first Test match, with a refined 101 in the opening innings, and Kohli’s 76 in the second. These, in our opinion, ought to be among the runs in the second Test as well.

With a 4-69, Bumrah was the only bowler who really stood out. In 39 overs, the two inexperienced bowlers—Shardul Thakur, in his eleventh Test match, and Prasidh Krishna, making his debut—leaked 194 runs while taking two wickets. Mohammed Siraj also gave off mixed signals.

In place of the injured Mohammed Shami, India has included uncapped fast bowler Avesh Khan in their team for the second Test. Avesh, who is now in South Africa, lost the second four-day Test match at Benoni to South Africa A, 5–54. Prasidh will probably be replaced in the starting eleven by Avesh.

Full Squad:

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Mohd. Shami*, (VC), Prasidh Krishna.

Players to watch out for in India vs South Africa:

KL Rahul

With a 4-69, Bumrah was the only bowler who really stood out.

Possible Playing XI:

Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin/ Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna/ Avesh Khan

South Africa (Match Odds- 2.15)

Preview

It was the ideal game to begin their series for South Africa. They initially bowled India out for 245 on a hot surface at Centurion, before building a commanding 163-run lead. The visitors were shot out for just 131 in return.

Playing in his final Test series, Dean Elgar showed class with a century and a half to win the match. All-rounder Marco Jansen (84), and debutant David Bedingham (56), contributed to the home team’s massive 408 total.

Due to an injury sustained during the game, captain Temba Bavuma was unable to bat. Since he is unable to play in the final Test, Aiden Markram, who has scored 317 runs at an average of 39.63 in the last five games, will be counted on to put up a solid effort.

Even without bowling greats like Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi, South Africa’s bowling was still very threatening. Once again, Kagiso Rabada was the game’s wrecker-in-chief, claiming 7 wickets at a cost of just 91 runs. While Jansen shown how challenging it can be to confront him on these tracks, rookie Nandre Burger was equally brilliant, taking seven wickets in his first Test match.

Gerald Coetzee, a fast bowler, will also not be playing in the second Test due to discomfort in his pelvis. If Lungi Ngidi is fit, he will replace him; if not, Wiaan Mulder will probably take over.

This appears to be a formidable fast bowling attack that will cause India additional problems in the upcoming Test.

Full Squad:

Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar (C), Keegan Petersen, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Tristan Stubbs (wk), Nandre Burger, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, David Bedingham.

Players to watch out for in India vs South Africa:

Aiden Markram

Since Temba Bavuma is unable to play in the final Test, Aiden Markram, who has scored 317 runs at an average of 39.63 in the last five games, will be counted on to put up a solid effort.

Kagiso Rabada

Kagiso Rabada is the game’s wrecker-in-chief, claiming 7 wickets at a cost of just 91 runs in the first match.

Possible Playing XI:

Dean Elgar(c), Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi/ Wiaan Mulder/ Keshav Maharaj , Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger

India vs South Africa Toss Prediction:

Since Cape Town is typically a bowling-friendly location, the captain who wins the toss may be inclined to bowl first in an effort to limit the opponents for a low total.

India vs South Africa Pitch Report:

The SuperSport Park in Centurion is anticipated to provide speed bowlers with a fair bit of assistance. But as the ball becomes older, hitters who have survived the difficult phase will have more opportunities to score runs. Although they won’t work as well in this situation, spinners can still apply pressure by holding one end up.

Throughout the Test, Cape Town is predicted to see bright, sunny weather.

India vs South Africa Match Report:

Despite failing to win a series, India has triumphed in a Test match on four of their last five trips to South Africa. Can they pull off another victory? Given how they performed in the first Test, that doesn’t seem realistic. Although their hitters might still perform well, they will probably be let down once more by their lackluster bowling team. Even though they aren’t playing at their best, South Africa is looking quite strong right now and ought to be able to maintain their lead.

India is predicted to win the match India vs South Africa at the odds of 2.15