India Face Daunting Task After South Africa's Massive First Innings Total
The Indian cricket team faces a challenging battle on Day 3 of the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati after the visitors posted an imposing first innings total of 489 runs. The Indian openers will need to demonstrate remarkable resilience and spend substantial time at the crease to counter South Africa's strong position in this crucial match.
Overnight batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul will resume the proceedings for India when play begins. The team will be without their regular captain Shubman Gill, whose absence creates a significant void in the batting lineup and leadership department.
Where to Watch IND vs SA 2nd Test Live
Cricket enthusiasts across India can catch all the action live on Star Sports channels, the official broadcaster of the India vs South Africa Test series. The coverage begins at 9 AM IST daily. For those preferring digital platforms, live streaming will be available through the JioCinema app and website, ensuring fans don't miss any moment of this exciting contest.
Expected Lineups for Both Teams
South Africa's predicted playing XI features a balanced combination of experienced campaigners and promising talents:
- Aiden Markram
- Ryan Rickelton
- Wiaan Mulder
- Temba Bavuma (Captain)
- Tony de Zorzi
- Tristan Stubbs
- Kyle Verreynne (Wicketkeeper)
- Marco Jansen
- Senuran Muthusamy
- Simon Harmer
- Keshav Maharaj
India's expected lineup shows several strategic choices:
- KL Rahul
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Sai Sudharsan
- Dhruv Jurel
- Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper/Captain)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
The Indian batting unit, led by the opening pair of Jaiswal and Rahul, will need to build substantial partnerships to challenge South Africa's dominant position. With Pant taking over captaincy duties in Gill's absence, all eyes will be on how the team manages this transition during a critical phase of the match.
The Guwahati pitch has shown characteristics that favor batters who can spend time at the crease, making the first session of Day 3 particularly crucial for both teams. India's response to South Africa's massive total could well determine the direction this Test match takes.
