India vs South Africa 2nd Test Match
An event that millions of cricket fans around the world are looking forward to. India vs South Africa 2nd Test Match and it starts on November 22. After a disappointing defeat in the first match of the series, Rishabh Pant’s team faces a daunting task: to level the score in the match. Having been beaten by just 30 runs at the famous Eden Gardens, failing to reach a modest target of 124, the Indians are simply obliged to produce a strong reply.
India vs South Africa 2nd Test Match: Location
All the intrigue will unfold at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. And here’s what’s especially interesting: this stadium has never hosted a Test match! It is a historic moment for the cricketing world of North East India. Two of the world’s strongest teams will take to the field to play the first Test in the history of this arena. Previously, it hosted the Women’s World Cup, ODIs, and T20Is, but a five-day marathon is a special test for any venue.
Team lineups: changes
The team’s core consisted of both experienced leaders and young talents. India, losing the series with the previous team, relied on fresh forces in the hope of turning the tide of the confrontation.
- Rishabh Pant — batsman-wicketkeeper, captain
- Akash Deep — bowler.
- Jasprit Bumrah — bowler.
- Ravindra Jadeja — all-rounder.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal — open batsman
- Dhruv Jurel — batsman-wicketkeeper.
- Kuldeep Yadav — bowler.
- Mohammed Siraj — bowler.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy — batsman-all-rounder.
- Devdutt Padikkal — batsman top-order.
- Axar Patel — all-rounder.
The South Africans, on the other hand, remained faithful to their proven formula for success, making only targeted improvements to their already balanced team:
- Temba Bavuma — batsman middle order, captain
- Corbin Bosch — all-rounder.
- Dewald Brevis — batsman middle order.
- Tony de Zorzi — batsman top-order.
- Simon Harmer — bowler.
- Marco Jansen — bowler-all-rounder.
- Keshav Maharaj — bowler.
- Aiden Markram — batsman middle order.
- Wiaan Mulder — all-rounder.
- Senuran Muthusamy — batsman-all-rounder.
- Lungi Ngidi — bowler.
- Kagiso Rabada — bowler.
- Ryan Rickelton — wicket-keeper-batsman.
- Tristan Stubbs — batsman.
- Kyle Verreynne — wicket-keeper-batsman.
- Zubayr Hamza — batsman.
Their line-up looks balanced and strong, with the option of two wicketkeepers and plenty of all-rounders.
Field and weather
The pitch in Guwahati for the India vs South Africa 2nd Test match promises to be interesting for everyone. Experts predict that fast bowlers will show their game first: the bounce will be smooth, and the ball will travel well. This means that the first hours of the match will be a serious test for the top-order batsmen of both teams, and they will have to be extremely focused. But from the third day, spinners will confidently enter the game.
The red soil will also encourage reverse-swing for pace bowlers. In general, it won’t be boring. This isn’t the slow Eden Gardens pitch that India failed on; runs will be easier to score here.
As for the weather, it seems to be favorable for cricket. The forecast promises sunny days with clear skies. The temperature will be comfortable for playing: from 16°C at night to 26°C during the day. The chance of rain is minimal, only about 15%.
At stake is not only the series win but also precious points in the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC India currently sits fourth with a PCT of 54.17 and every game is worth its weight in gold. And their rivals, the South Africans, the reigning WTC champions, clearly show no signs of slowing down. Their confident performance in Kolkata and 1-1 draw with Pakistan away prove that this is not a team to be trifled with.
Who is the favorite
Looking at the India vs South Africa 2nd Test Match, we see that South Africa is heading into the match as favorites. Their confidence after the win, their stable lineup, and India’s weakness against a quality spin team in the first Test are all strong arguments. India will have to contend not only with a strong opposing team, but also with its own doubts.
