In the second and final Test match held in Guwahati, South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first. The match marks a significant occasion, as it is the first Test hosted by Guwahati, making it the easternmost Test venue in India.
Key Changes in Team Lineups
South Africa, currently leading the series 1-0, made one adjustment to their playing XI. They included spin-bowling allrounder Senuran Muthusamy, replacing Corbin Bosch. Wiaan Mulder retained his position but was slated to bat lower in the order due to the absence of Kagiso Rabada.
India’s Selection Dilemmas
India faced challenges in their selection. With regular captain Shubman Gill unavailable, they aimed to maintain a balance of left-hand batters. To avoid an overwhelming number of left-handers, B Sai Sudharsan was chosen to replace Gill alongside the introduction of Nitish Kumar Reddy. Reddy, a seam-bowling allrounder, comes with experience, having scored a Test century in Australia.
Match Details
- Date: Saturday
- Venue: Guwahati, India
- South Africa’s Lineup:
- 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’s Lineup:
- 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
Play was scheduled to commence at 9 AM due to the early nightfall in Guwahati, resulting from India’s single time zone.
