South Africa will take on India in the 2nd Test of the Freedom Trophy, 2021/22 at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. This is the same venue where India has never lost a Test match in their 30 years of touring history in South Africa.
Will India make changes to their playing XI?
The Virat Kohli-led side registered a remarkable 113-run victory in the first Test and will be aiming to secure a historic first Test series win against the Proteas on their soil. The visitors will be roaring to go after their complete dominance performance in the first test. However, the form of senior players with the bat has been a cause of concern for the Indian team management.
All three Pujara, Kohli, and Rahane spent some time in the middle and looked in good touch but no one was able to score a half-century. Kohli has a great record at Wanderers. He is currently the second-highest run-scorer (310 runs) among opposition batters in Test matches in Johannesburg, only New Zealand’s John Reid (316 runs) is ahead of Kohli in the list. Virat will look to get his 71st century and go past the tally of Reid at Johannesburg. Pujara also has scored 229 runs in two Tests at the venue, with one century and a half-century.
It is unlikely that India will tinker with their playing 11 for the Johannesburg Test unless some injuries. However, Wanderers is one of the fastest pitches in the world, and pacers have been very successful at this venue. When India last won at Wanderers in 2018, they played with an all-pace attack – Bumrah, Shami, Ishant, Bhuvneshwar Kumar & Hardik. So, will India go with an all-pace attack this time too, it’ll be interesting to see.
South Africa have a problem of plenty
South Africa’s Quinton de Kock shockingly announced his retirement with immediate effect after the first test. Kyle Verreynne or Ryan Rickelton is likely to replace him in the second test. In the batting department, Captain Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma looked in control, but they needed support from the other end. Markram, Van der Dussen, Keegan Petersen will have to show plenty of application with the bat in the second test.
Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi were excellent with the ball and troubled Indian batsmen in the first test. The debutant Marco Jensen also performed well enough in the first match as he took a total of 5 wickets to his name. South Africa will look to bring in Duanne Olivier in place of Keshav Maharaj and strengthen their bowling lineup.
South Africa vs India Match Details
Date – 3rd-7th January 2022
Time – 1:30 PM IST
Venue – The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
South Africa vs India Head-to-Head
Total – 40
South Africa – 15
India – 15
Draw – 10
Pitch Report
Wanderers is one of the fastest pitches in South Africa. The new ball bowlers will get seam movement off the surface. However, batters will find it easy to bat on the surface and can play their strokes freely once they get set. The average 1st innings score at this venue in the last 5 matches is 207 runs. The team batting first has only won 20% of its matches, so the captain winning the toss will look to bowl first.
South Africa vs India Probable Playing XI
South Africa – Dean Elgar (C), Aiden Makram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreyne/Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj/Duanne Olivier
India – KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shardul Thakur, R Ashwin/Ishant Sharma/Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj
South Africa vs India Fantasy XI suggestion
Wicket-keeper – Rishabh Pant
Batters – KL Rahul, Temba Bavuma, Dean Elgar, Virat Kohli
All-rounders – Wian Mulder
Bowlers – Mohammad Shami, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Jasprit Bumrah, Duanne Olivier/Marci Jansen