Guwahati is currently hosting an exciting Test match between India and South Africa, marking a significant moment in cricket history. This Test is particularly notable for being the first to be played at this eastern-most venue in India. With a series lead of 1-0, South Africa opted to bat first after winning the toss, continuing their competitive edge.
South Africa’s Changes and Strategy
The South African team has made a single alteration to their lineup, introducing spin allrounder Senuram Muthusamy in place of Corbin Bosch. Wiaan Mulder remains in the squad, although he has been moved down the batting order. Due to Kagiso Rabada’s absence, Mulder is the second-fastest bowler in the team.
India’s Lineup Adjustments
India faced a challenge in selecting their team due to the absence of their regular captain, Shubman Gill. To maintain a balance in their batting order, India included Nitish Kumar Reddy—a seam-bowling allrounder with a Test century in Australia—in place of spin-bowling allrounder Axar Patel. They chose to retain B Sai Sudharsan rather than making a simple swap for Gill, avoiding an excessive number of left-handed batters in the setup.
Match Details and Timing
The match is scheduled to start at 9 am IST, as Guwahati experiences early darkness, being within a single time zone across India. This unique setting will present new challenges for the players during play.
Playing XIs
- South Africa:
- Aiden Markram
- Ryan Rickelton
- Tristan Stubbs
- Tony de Zorzi
- Temba Bavuma (captain)
- Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper)
- Wiaan Mulder
- Senuran Muthusamy
- Marco Jansen
- Simon Harmer
- Keshav Maharaj
- India:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- B Sai Sudharsan
- Dhruv Jurel
- Rishabh Pant (captain & wicketkeeper)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
As the match unfolds, cricket enthusiasts are keenly following the developments in Guwahati. Both teams have made strategic decisions to strengthen their chances, promising an electrifying contest on the field.
