South Africa and India will play the second and final Test of their two-match series at Newlands in Cape Town. The Proteas have a series lead after winning the first match in Centurion by an innings and 32 runs.
This match offers plenty to bet on, before and after the opening delivery. Let’s see what the betting markets and cricket odds have in store.
Head-to-head record
South Africa have three wins to India’s two in their last five Test meetings. All three of South Africa’s wins have come in a row. India have not beaten the Proteas in Test match cricket since 2021.
South Africa insight
South Africa won the first Test inside three days and will be eager to match this dominance in the second match. They will be without two first-choice players, though. Captain Temba Bavuma and fast bowler Gerald Coetzee have been sidelined by injury.
South Africa will not replace Coetzee in the squad, but have called up batter Zubayr Hamza as cover for Bavuma. It will be interesting to see if Tristan Stubbs debuts or Hamza is recalled to the playing XI. The Proteas lacked a specialist spinner in Centurion – and Keshav Maharaj will probably come in for Coetzee.
Dean Elgar is going to captain the team in the absence of Bavuma. Elgar is retiring from international cricket after this series. He scored a big century in Centurion and, at Newlands, he would like to sign off in style with another big contribution to another important series win for his country.
With Bavuma sidelined and Elgar on his way out, focus will be on South Africa’s relatively new-look batting department again. David Bedingham, Keegan Petersen, Kyle Verreynne and others can use this as an opportunity to show their individual and collective promise again.
India insight
India were largely outplayed in the first Test. Captain Rohit Sharma admitted they did not adapt quickly enough to conditions, circumstances and the challenge posed by the opposition. In Cape Town, they can take the lessons learnt in Centurion and look to implement swift and effective corrections.
Like the Proteas, India have been depleted by injuries. They won’t have Mohammed Shami. Avesh Khan has been added to the squad after impressing for India A against South Africa A in South Africa this month. Khan may come into the XI for Prasidh Krishna.
India will find it tough to fit Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja into the same XI, but one surmises they need to get Jadeja playing. Ashwin was relatively flat in the series opener. Jadeja has that proverbial x-factor with bat and ball – and is a livewire fielder.
KL Rahul was superb with the bat in Centurion. His century was arguably the best of his career. Sharma, Virat Kohli and other batters need to offer him stronger support. Conditions at Newlands in Cape Town might be less challenging for the batters than they were in Centurion.
Toss
Four of the last five Tests at Newlands have seen the toss-winning captain opt to bat first. It’s probable the team to win the toss this time, too, will choose bat first.
This is even more likely if the skies are reasonably clear on the morning of day one in Cape Town. The weather forecast suggests they will be.
Pitch conditions
South Africa and India played a Test here in early 2022, when each of the four innings ranged between totals of 198 and 223. Those suggest this is a relatively low-scoring ground, but not necessarily if batters really apply themselves.
This pitch, traditionally, offers a great contest between bat and ball. There are productive factors for both disciplines. Little to no rain is forecast in the Newlands area for the duration of the scheduled five days.
Top tips
Dean Elgar to be top South Africa batter
Elgar hit 185 and was named player of the match in Centurion. This will be his last Test. He has been appointed stand-in captain. The added responsibility should empower, not limit, his primary role with the bat.
Nandre Burger to be top South Africa bowler
With Coetzee sidelined, Burger takes centre stage among South Africa’s new fast bowlers. Burger took seven wickets on debut in Centurion. Newlands is his home ground. At the moment, he is a better left-arm seamer than the more experienced and highly favoured Marco Jansen.
Virat Kohli to be top India batter
Kohli hit 79 and 29 the last time India played a Test at Newlands. He wasn’t in his best form in Centurion. He has a point to prove. He is the type of cricketer who can bounce back with a big innings in trying circumstances.
