Rishabh Pant-led India take on Temba Bavuma’s South Africa in the second and final Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The team management has opted to bring back Sai Sudarshan as the number three batsman in place of Washington Sundar, who was left out of the playing eleven for the opening match of the series.
Sudarshan recorded scores of 87 and 39 during the second Test against West Indies. However, the left-handed batsman has not made much of a mark in Test cricket. The 24-year-old, who made his Test debut in England, has scored only two half-centuries in nine innings at an impressive average of 30.33.
Sai Sudarshan replaces Washington Sundar at third position in the team sheet.
India made changes to their batting order, promoting Sai Sudarshan to the No. 3 position and pushing Washington Sundar down the lineup. Sundar had impressed in the first Test, yet he was listed at number 8 in the team sheet, below Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Sundar showed some courage with scores of 29 and 31 on a difficult Eden Gardens pitch. He was the highest run-scorer for India in the final innings chase of 124 runs. The off-spinner had almost no role with the ball, bowling only one over in the first innings and none in the second.
India’s playing eleven: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudarshan, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant (captain and wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first in Guwahati
South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first. They entered the match with one change in their lineup. Senuran Muthusamy was included in the playing eleven in place of Corbin Bosch. After defeating India in just three days on Kolkata’s turn-taking pitch, the visiting team has taken a 1-0 lead in the series.
“We have to make a fresh start (after Kolkata’s win). This wicket looks much better, so we want to score a big score. There are no cracks on the pitch,” Temba Bavuma said.
South Africa Playing XI: 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.
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