Temba Bavuma, the South African captain, made a decisive call this Saturday morning at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, winning the toss and electing to bat first in the crucial second test against India. This decision sets the stage for what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Team Lineups and Changes
India has been forced to make changes to their lineup. Injured captain Shubman Gill is replaced by Sai Sudharsan. Furthermore, left-arm spinner Axar Patel makes way for seam bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, indicating a shift in strategy by the home side.
South Africa also introduces a change, with fast-bowling all-rounder Corbin Bosch replaced by left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy. This adjustment comes after their stunning 30-run victory in the first test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where they successfully defended a fourth-innings target of 124, bowling India out for a mere 93.
Confirmed Teams
- India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (captain/wkt), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj
- South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Marco Jansen, Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj
The Proteas will be looking to capitalise on their momentum from the first test, while India aims to bounce back strongly on home soil. The stage is set for a captivating test match!