India will clash with South Africa for the final match of the two-Test bilateral series in Cape Town starting on Wednesday. Hosts South Africa already lead the series 1-0. India will try to level the series in the must-win 2nd Test match at Newlands. (Match Blog | Scorecard)
South Africa's stand-in captain Dean Elgar will play for the final time in International cricket in the 2nd Test match. Full-time captain Temba Bavuma sustained a hamstring sprain while fielding on the first day of the Boxing Day Test and is recovering from that injury. Zubayr Hamza replaced him in the squad for the second Test.
India have added pacer Avesh Khan for the second Test as a replacement for the injured Mohammed Shami. The pitch in Cape Town offers assistance to fast bowlers and the Indian bowling line-up may be changed according to that and Khan's inclusion in the squad provides various options.
The battle between the bat and the ball is going to be legendary in the second Test as India will give their best to level the series and South Africa will be eyeing to clinch the series and give the veteran Dean Elgar a proper send-off in his farewell Test match. Before that, three key battles are worth looking out for:
1. Rohit Sharma vs Kagiso Rabada
Indian captain Rohit Sharma has been dismissed by Kagiso Rabada in both innings of the first Test and Rabada also has a very good record against him in Tests in the past. Rabada took a fifer in the first innings of the first Test and took a brace in the second innings. He has been successful in creating problems for the Indian star with his out-swingers. Being a prolific hitter of pull-shot, Sharma was holed out playing that shot in the first inning against Rabada. How Sharma will play Rabada and how is he going to change his approach on his deliveries would be very crucial for the Indian team.
2. Dean Elgar vs Jasprit Bumrah
Dean Elgar was named player of the match in the first match for his 185-run knock in the first innings that set the tone for South Africa's victory. Jasprit Bumrah disturbed him at the start of his inning but he managed to set the eyes and scored his 14th Test ton. Elgar will be playing his final international cricket match and the pressure might be on him as well. Bumrah is known for his deadly bowling and the fact that he has an advantage against Elgar will play a huge role in this key battle.
3. Virat Kohli vs Marco Jansen
Indian star batter Virat Kohli and South African all-rounder Marco Jansen both play with intensity when they are on the ground. Jansen also dismissed Kohli in the second innings of the first Test match. Kohli has been in problem in front of left-arm pacers and Jansen along with compatriot Nandre Burger might create some issues for him in the second match. Jansen was seen saying something to KL Rahul during the first Test and Kohli is always ready for a verbal exchange on the field. The battle between the left-arm pacer and the Indian star would be worth watching.
Squads:
India's Test 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, Avesh Khan, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna
South Africa's Test squad: David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar (c), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Zubayr Hamza.
