Pune: Improving on near perfection would be India's aim while building on the small positives from a huge loss will be South Africa's focus when the two mismatched sides clash in the second Test starting here from Thursday.
The pitch at the Pune's Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium will play a vital role in the game as there will be overcast conditions throughout the first four days of the match.
This is the second Test match which will be played in Pune. In 2017 February Australia were on the tour of India where the visiting team thrashed the host by 333 runs. The pitch was favouring spinners and Virat Kohli's men were bowled out on 105 and 107 where was visitors scored 260 and 285.
Meanwhile, Pune pitch curator Pandurang Salgaonkar will be in the spotlight throughout the match. The last time he curates the pitch it backfired for India. Following the incident, a news channel reported that he was involved in illegal activity. A six-month suspension was handed out to Salgaonkar after the incident.
All eyes will be firmly set on Salgaonkar once again when the action gets underway in Pune on Thursday, his first real 'pitch' test since that eventful game in 2017.