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New Delhi: India will take on South Africa in the second Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday, November 21. This will be the first-ever Test match at the venue as the Men in Blue aim to level the series.
Rishabh Pant will lead India in the second Test against South Africa, after regular captain Shubman Gill was ruled out due to a neck injury. Gill was formally released from the squad on Friday after failing to recover from the neck spasm, which he suffered while batting on day 2 of the Kolkata Test.
"Team India captain Shubman Gill, who suffered a neck injury during the first Test against South Africa, has been ruled out of the second Test in Guwahati. Gill suffered a neck injury on Day 2 of the Kolkata Test and was taken to the hospital for examination after the end of day's play," the BCCI confirmed in a statement.
The Men in Blue lost the opening Test by 30 runs at Eden Gardens on a track that provided more assistance to the spinners. The visitors bundled out for 159 runs on the opening day after opting to bat. But their bowlers were brilliant as India could only manage to take a slender lead of 30 runs.
In the second innings, South Africa were reduced to 93/7 at stumps on day two, and the hosts were the favourites to win the match. But, captain Temba Bavuma batted brilliantly against the Indian spinners to become the only batter to hit a fifty in the first Test. His knock ensured that the Proteas added 60 runs to the overnight score and set India a target in excess of 120, which proved tricky as the visitors were bowled out for just 93 runs.
The surface at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium is expected to be a red-soil track, and it has a thin layer of grass on it. But it will most likely be shaved off on the match eve.
Generally, red-soil surfaces are expected to dry faster and break up sooner. They offer extra bounce and are a bit quicker early on. But the red-soil pitch also changes quickly, as spinners gain help, with good turn and often unpredictable bounce.
