Overview:
South Africa come into this series on the back of a 1-1 draw against Pakistan away. This is their 2nd series of the ongoing WTC campaign. Notably, the defending champions are a draw or a win away from sealing the 2-match series against India.
The Indian men’s cricket team is set to take on South Africa in the 2nd Test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The 2nd clash of the two-Test series will start from November 22 onwards.
This will be the 1st Test match to be played here at this venue. The stadium has hosted a couple of T20Is and ODI matches in men’s cricket.
All eyes will be on India’s journey in the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle. They drew 2-2 against England away and beat West Indies 2-0 at home. This is their 3rd series. Team India was beaten fair and square in the Kolkata Test by South Africa. The hosts are 4th in the WTC standings.
South Africa come into this series on the back of a 1-1 draw against Pakistan away. This is their 2nd series of the ongoing WTC campaign. Notably, the defending champions are a draw or a win away from sealing the 2-match series against India.
What is the Context of the IND vs SA match?
India, who let Nitish Kumar Reddy leave ahead of the Kolkata Test in order to make him play in the India A vs South Africa A ODIs, has been recalled. He might well be given a berth in the playing XI. India will be led by Rishabh Pant with Shubman Gill set to miss the match with an injury. He faced only three balls in Kolkata and never returned back. Gill will sit outside and cheer his team.
For South Africa, Temba Bavuma did a solid job at Eden Gardens. He recently featured in the 2nd IND-A vs SA-A unofficial Test, leading his side to a victory. SA will aim to strike the right balance against India. They have a strong unit at their disposal.
In terms of the H2H record, India and South Africa have faced each other 45 times. India have won 16 games against SA, who have pocketed 19 wins. 10 matches have been drawn.
The 2nd Test between India and SA will start at 9:00 am IST on November 22 in Guwahati.
India – Probable Playing XI
Yashasvi Jaiswal: The southpaw enjoyed a decent England tour, starting and ending with hundreds. Thereafter, Jaiswal featured in the Duleep Trophy, scoring 4 and 64 for West Zone. In the 2-Test series against West Indies, he managed 36, 175 and 8. He appeared for one Ranji Trophy match, scoring 67 and 156 for Mumbai. However, he was abysmal in the 1st Test against SA, scoring 12 and 0.
KL Rahul: The senior Indian batsman had a strong showing in England and then also versus the West Indies. He also played in the 2nd unofficial Test versus SA-A recently. Rahul, who scaled down 4000 runs during the 1st Test, scored 39 and 1 in Kolkata.
Sai Sudharsan: The 24-year-old has featured in 5 Tests for India, scoring 273 runs at 30.33. He featured for India A against SA-A recently and scored 32, 12, 17 and 23. He didn’t play the 1st Test.
Rishabh Pant (wk): The star cricketer returned to competitive cricket in internationals since fracturing his foot in the 4th Test against England. He wasn’t up to his best in Kolkata, scoring 27 and 2. He will lead the side with Gill failing to recover.
Dhruv Jurel: The talented Jurel is set to feature for India after his strong show in the unofficial Tests versus SA-A. Before that, he did well against West Indies in Pant’s absence. Jurel scored 14 and 13 in the 1st Test.
Ravindra Jadeja: A fierce player, Jadeja is a world class all-rounder He can be a game-changer for India. He was instrumental for India in England and did well next against the West Indies. In the 1st Test, he scored 27 and 18. With the ball, he claimed a four-fer in the 3rd innings.
Washington Sundar: The all-rounder has nailed his spot in India’s Test side. He did well in England. He was part of the West Indies Tests and then featured versus Australia in the white-ball tour. He got a chance to bat in the 1st Test but didn’t get much to bowl, picking only 1 wicket across 2 innings.
Nitish Reddy: India are in a desperate need to a right-handed batter to support Rahul and Jurel. And this might prompt the team management to select Reddy and make him replace Axar Patel.
Kuldeep Yadav: The spinner will be keen to showcase his mettle. He was sent back from Australia midway through the T20Is to take part in the 2nd India A vs SA-A clash. However, he didn’t impress with the ball, picking a lone wicket across 2 innings. At Eden Gardens, he claimed 4 scalps with 2 wickets each across both innings.
Mohammed Siraj: The pacer was influential both against England and West Indies. He was recently seen playing for India A against SA-A. In between, he played three ODIs against Australia. He picked 4 scalps in the 1st Test in Kolkata.
Jasprit Bumrah: The experienced pacer will lead India from the front and showcase his mettle. He claimed a fifer in the 1st Test and backed it up with one wicket in the 3rd innings.
Player to watch out for (Rishabh Pant): The swashbuckling batter will want to rectify his mistakes in Kolkata with a neat effort here.
South Africa – Probable Playing XI
Aiden Markram : The star Proteas batter owns over 3000 runs in Tests. He helped SA win the World Test Championship title by scoring a hundred against Australia.
Ryan Rickelton : He is set to keep his place. Rickelton hit 71, 45, 14 and 25* in the two-Test series against Pakistan. He averages close to 40 in Tests, scoring 827 runs from 14 matches.
Temba Bavuma (c): He is a solid customer. He returned from injury in the India A vs SA-A contest. He scored 0 and 59. At Eden Gardens, he bagged three and an unbeaten 55 from 136 balls. SA need his touch and class.
Tony de Zorzi: He is a promising figure. De Zorzi did well against Pakistan in Tests, hitting two fifty-plus scores. He scored 24 and 2 against India at Eden Gardens.
Tristan Stubbs: He has a point to prove and this series is crucial. He scored one fifty and posted three low scores in the 2-Test series against Pakistan. He averages over 27 in Tests. He scored 15 and 5 at Eden Gardens.
Kyle Verreynne (wk): He will be a key figure in that middle order. He owns over 1200 runs in Tests from 30 matches (46 innings). He struggled against Pakistan with 2, 19 and 0 across three innings. Versus India, he put up scores worth 16 and 9.
Simon Harmer: Recently, Harmer surpassed 1000 wickets in FC cricket. The right-arm spinner owns 59 Test wickets for SA. He claimed 13 wickets against Pakistan and remains a threat. At Eden Gardens, he managed six wickets that included a four-fer.
Keshav Maharaj: He will lead SA’s spin unit. The left-arm spinner has 215 wickets in Tests and over 640 wickets in FC cricket. He owns 57 wickets in Asia.
Marco Jansen: The left-arm pacer can be productive. With 77 Test scalps at 22.84, he is a threat. However, he struggled against Pakistan, going wicketless across three innings. However, he shone against India in the 1st Test, picking 5 wickets.
Corbin Bosch: With Kagiso Rabada set to be absent, Bosch will keep his place. He managed just one wicket with the ball and 3 and 25 with the bat.
Player to watch out for (Simon Harmer): He shone on the decks in Pakistan and then in Kolkata. He is in form and will want to shine.
Top Batters for Dream11
In terms of the Dream11 team pick, among batters, the likes of Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul. The likes of Bavuma and Dhruv Jurel can be wise picks alongside Washington Sundar and Tony de Zorzi.
Tristan Stubbs can be a differential pick. He promises quick runs and able partnerships.
Best All-Rounders to Boost Points
In terms of all-rounders, one can go with two sound options in the form of India’s Ravindra Jadeja. For SA, Corbin Bosch can be productive.
Bowlers to Watch in Dream11
With the surface expected to be balanced with spin coming into play from Day 3 onwards, one can add quality names. For SA, Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj hold the key. For India, one can count upon Jadeja.
Captain and Vice-captain picks
Rahul can be an ideal captaincy option with Jasprit Bumrah being the vice-captain pick.
One can mix it with Pant being picked as captain and Markram as the vice-captain.
Pitch Report & Venue Conditions
The wicket will be expected to find joy for pacers early on with even bounce and carry. Batsmen will be in the picture as far as their value of shots are concerned. From Day 3 onwards, spinners will have a more prominent role to play. The red soil surface will also aid reverse swing for pace bowlers. Scoring runs here will be much easier compared to that of Eden Gardens. Whichever side handles the surface well will have an advantage.
Match Prediction – Who Has the Upper Hand?
All things considered, Guwahati is likely to offer a good balanced wicket with spinners coming into the fray as the ball gets older. South Africa will start as favourites given India’s poor show against spin. India are also set to ring in changes whereas the Proteas will opt for the same team that beat India in Kolkata.
FAQs About IND vs SA Playing 11
Who are the key players in the IND vs SA clash?
For India, Rishabh Pant can be instrumental with his ability to score vital runs. For the Proteas, Harmer can be lethal. He was in good touch with the ball in his hand in the 1st Test.