(Cricket news) After a dominating 113 run win in the 1st Test, India will play the 2nd and potentially deciding Test in Johannesburg. A victory would mean that Virat Kohli's men will become the first Indian side to win a Test series in South Africa. The Proteas on the other hand would be looking to come back with a win.
India's Possible Playing XI:
KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
India do not have a reason to make any changes in the side. They have been persistent with the 5 bowlers theory and are expected to continue with the same. Ajinkya Rahane's decent performance in the first may just keep him in the side ahead of Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari. India have the option of Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma in case any of the seamers need to be rested or have niggles. Bumrah did twist his ankle in the 1st innings but still bowled extremely well in the last innings. There is a chance that Bumrah could sit out the game.
South Africa's Possible Playing XI:
Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Keegan Peterson, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Duanne Olivier.
Quinton de Kock unexpectedly announced his retirement from Test cricket after the first Test concluded. Kyle Verreynne should come into the side for his 3rd Test match, Ryan Rickelton is the other option. Marco Jansen had a decent debut at Centurion but the Proteas attack was missing something which Duanne Olivier could bring in.
Also read: Takeaways from India's squad for ODIs against South Africa
Weather report:
Weather is likely to intervene from the 2nd day onwards as the first day is predicted to have cloud cover but no rain. The cloud cover would be good news for the seamers. The captain who wins the toss will be looking to field first and give his seamers something to work with.
South Africa had a few very good periods in the game where they could have turned it around. Their batters weren't able to cope with India's relentless pace battery. The Proteas just need a few things to go their way. India just need to do the things they have been doing for the past year. The only thing that has room for improvement is the middle order. Pujara, Kohli and Rahane need to get among the runs to make up for playing 5 bowlers. At this point it is difficult to see India losing the game but the Proteas could take advantage of the home conditions and cause an upset.
