Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
IND vs SA 2nd Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing XI Pitch Report. India vs South Africa 2nd Test Preview Dream11 Prediction.
The Vizag Test was not all surprising from an India perspective. Rohit Sharma made the perfect start to life as an opener. Mayank Agarwal played the big breakthrough innings in Test cricket. Cheteshwar Pujara started slowly before being abused into action.
The spinners, particularly Ravichandran Ashwin, had their say. Mohammed Shami, anonymous in the first innings, showed up big time in the second. In the end, it was a 203-run win after winning a toss that forced Faf du Plessis to look back at his dressing room begging for forgiveness.
But, what was surprising was South Africa making a superb 431 with the bat. Optimists will certainly hold onto that as hope ahead of the Pune Test, while pessimists will point to the 203-run loss despite such a big effort. The Proteas’ bowling haemorrhaged runs at alarming rates in Vizag, which ultimately hurt them the most. Can they put another big effort, this time with better strategy and execution?
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Key to an India win
Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander held much of South Africa’s hopes on the opening day in Vizag. However, when Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma blunted the new ball, the Proteas knew they were in trouble. This time, South Africa could look at playing more to their strength (pace) with the possible inclusion of Lungi Ngidi, which calls for the Indian top order batsmen to be on their game again.
It is one thing to have a great game in Test cricket, but a significant challenge is following it up with another.
Virat Kohli, largely quiet in Vizag, will want another solid platform from his top three. With Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari in superb touch in the Caribbean recently, India can again look forward to piling on the pressure against Keshav Maharaj and co by blunting South Africa’s pace aspirations.
Also, the quality of India’s spinners in these conditions was in stark contrast to South Africa’s. Accuracy and pressure from Ashwin and Jadeja will force the Proteas’ batsmen to look elsewhere for their release, which can create opportunities for Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami.
India often gain an advantage at home thanks to a flurry of wickets. If they do the same here, the pressure on South Africa’s big guns might be too much to handle.
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Key to a South Africa win
The toss can play a crucial role. But, teams who have won the toss in recent years in India have seldom gone on to win the Test. So, South Africa need more than the toss to go their way to have a say in this clash.
Indeed, the bowling was a major let down in Vizag. The spinners were unable to build pressure, often bowling one or two boundary-balls per over which kept the Indian batsmen in total control. Here, South Africa need to strike with the new ball, which will require Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada to attack the stumps a lot more. Then, Keshav Maharaj, South Africa’s premier spinner, needs to bowl with greater control if he is to give his side a foothold in the match.
But, can the batting fire, too? Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock led the way, with fine efforts from Faf du Plessis and Senuran Muthusamy along the way. However, the Proteas need more than the occasional big stand, but rather a team effort with contributions all the way down. Elgar, de Kock and du Plessis will be of huge importance again, but the likes of Aiden Markram, Theunis de Bruyn and Temba Bavuma must play with greater discipline.
Possible Playing 11
India had a good win in the first Test and have little reason to change their XI.
India: 1. Mayank Agarwal, 2. Rohit Sharma, 3. Cheteshwar Pujara, 4. Virat Kohli (c), 5. Ajinkya Rahane, 6. Hanuma Vihari, 7. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 8. Ravichandran Ashwin, 9. Ravindra Jadeja, 10. Ishant Sharma, 11. Mohammed Shami
It is not as straightforward for South Africa. Dane Piedt conceded over 200 runs in his 31 overs in Vizag, and is at long odds of keeping his spot despite his second innings half-century. The Proteas need control, even if it means playing an extra seamer.
South Africa: 1. Dean Elgar, 2. Aiden Markram, 3. Theunis de Bruyn, 4. Temba Bavuma, 5. Faf du Plessis (c), 6. Quinton de Kock (wk), 7. Senuran Muthusamy, 8. Vernon Philander, 9. Keshav Maharaj, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Lungi Ngidi
Pitch and Conditions
Pune is certainly a mystery. Since 2011-12, only two grounds have a higher batting average than Pune’s 35.82 in First Class cricket. However, it is not the same in Test cricket, where India were rolled for 105 and 107 on a ‘poor’ rated pitch vs Australia in 2017.
Plenty of rain has fallen in Pune in the past couple of weeks, which has impacted preparations. Quite a bit of grass is still expected to be removed, but the pitch is unlikely to be as dry as the one in 2017. Expect this to be a bat first pitch with something in it for the bowlers early and then plenty of turn as the match wears on due to the heat. Also, like Vizag, some rain could fall in the afternoons.
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Stats and Facts
- Rohit Sharma became the first batsman to hit twin centuries in his first Test as opener. He also hit the record number of sixes in a Test (14).
- Ravichandran Ashwin has moved back into the top 10 for bowlers. Quinton de Kock moved into the top 10 for batsmen.
- The Pune pitch is one of the flattest in Indian first-class cricket: average of 35.82 per wicket since 2011-12.
- Of the Indian players set to play this Test, Cheteshwar Pujara top scored in the only previous Pune Test with 31.
- South Africa’s last Test win in India was in 2010 (winless in next six).
Dream11 Prediction
Also read: MyTeam11 vs Dream11: Which is better for you?
Option 1:
Option 2:
Match Prediction
South Africa will be hoping to bat first. A strong first innings score can put India under pressure. But, whether South Africa have the bowling resources to finish on top in this Test is the big question. India to win.
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