Cape Town (South Africa): While their dream of reaching the final frontier - a Test series win in South Africa remains unfulfilled after their innings defeat in the first Test, the Indian team will be aiming to level the series when they take on the hosts in the second Test here from Wednesday.
The Newlands, one of the most scenic ones in the world, however is a nightmare for India as the country has lost all the six Test matches played at the picturesque venue.
If the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team has to break this dubious record, the skipper, who hails from Mumbai, will have to lead from the front and make his bat do all the talking.
The Indians batters faltered against the formidable South African attack at SuperSport Park in Centurion and the only good thing for them is that at Cape Town they would not face pacer Gerald Coetzee, who has been ruled out owing to an injury.
But left arm pacer Nandre Burger and right arm pacer Kasigo Rabada, who breathed fire in Centurion, will once again pose tough questions at Cape Town too as the surface here aids the seamers. Add to it the firepower of Lungi Ngidi, the South African battery of pacers will be keen to make the Indian batters dance to their tunes once again.
Barring KL Rahul, the Indian batters, who abjectly surrendered in the first Test, would have to click together and put runs on the board. The likes of Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, star batter Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, would need to show their mettle if the Rahul Dravid coached side is keen to level the series.
Virat Kohli scored a half century in the second Innings of the first Test and he would be keen to start from where he left.
KL Rahul was the only saving grace in the first Test as he hit a stroke-filled century and he would be keen to add some more runs to his kitty. He is also expected to don the gloves once again, which means that KS Bharat would warm the benches.
On the bowling front, a prolific Prasidh Krishna, who was unimpressive on his debut is most likely to sit out and in his place Madhya Pradesh seamer Avesh Khan is likely to make his Test debut.
Avesh, who was added to the India Test squad as a replacement for pacer Mohammed Shami, has played for India in ODIs and T20s and if makes the playing eleven tomorrow, it will be a special moment for the speedster from Indore.
Another likely change that the Indian team management could make is that they are likely to rest seasoned off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and play left arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja in his place. Jadeja's ability to score runs with the bat could come in handy for him when the team management decides to zero in on the playing eleven.
Vice Captain and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will have to be at his best if the Men in Blue are to stop skipper Dean Elgar, who is in scintillating form and scored 185 in the opening Test. He would need support from Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur, who is a bowling all-rounder.
The other South African batting line up is relatively inexperienced and hence the focus would be on Dean Elgar, who will be playing his final Test as he has already announced his retirement.
While South Africa will be keen to end stand-in skipper Dean Elgar's career on a high and aim for a whitewash, the Indian team would play to salvage pride and level the series.
Like India breached Fortress 'GABBA' in Brisbane in Australia, can the Men in Blue breach Fortress Newlands, only time will tell.
Match starts at 1:30 PM IST
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikar Bharat, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan.
South Africa: Dean Elgar(Captain), Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma, Keegan Petersen, Kyle Verreynne (wicket-keeper), Tristan Stubbs (wicket-keeper), Nandre Burger, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, David Bedingham.
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