The IND vs SA 2nd Test begins on November 22.
As India gear up to lock horns against the reigning world champions, South Africa, for the second Test in Guwahati on November 22, a new captain will take charge. Rishabh Pant, stepping in for the sidelined Shubman Gill, admitted that leading India in a one-off Test isn’t the ideal scenario.
Gill has been ruled out of the IND vs SA 2nd Test due to a neck spasm, which also forced him to miss a major part of the 1st Test in Kolkata. After retiring hurt in India’s first innings and being admitted to the hospital, Gill’s participation in the series ended prematurely. India’s 30-run loss in Kolkata on a spin-friendly pitch has put them on the brink of another series whitewash, trailing 0-1 in the two-match series.
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Rishabh Pant addressed the pressure during the pre-match conference, citing that the one-off match is not an ideal scenario.
“One-off match is not the best scenario for a captain, but I am thankful to the BCCI for giving me this honour,” Pant said. “Sometimes, if you think too much about a big occasion, it doesn’t help. I don’t want to overthink. We had a tough first Test and we need to do whatever is required to win.”
On his leadership approach, Pant claimed that his captaincy style is a blend of traditional strategy and instinctive innovation.
“I want to keep it a mixture of both. Being conventional helps, but thinking outside the box also works. It’s all about balance. And yes, I definitely back my instincts,” Pant added.
Regarding Gill’s replacement in the playing XI, Pant confirmed a decision has been made, but declined to reveal the player’s name. This Test will also be the first-ever match hosted at Guwahati’s Baraspara Stadium, adding an extra layer of significance.
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The team will have to choose among Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Nitish Kumar Reddy to fill Gill’s spot. A key concern remains the left-handed heavy lineup India chose in Kolkata, which played into the hands of South African off-spinner Simon Harmer. He also grabbed the Player of the Match for his eight-wicket match haul.
However, India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has downplayed the talks of the offspinner-left-hander dynamic, pointing out that South Africa too had a left-arm spinner, Keshav Maharaj, to work in their favour.
With Guwahati’s pitch expected to offer more balance than Kolkata’s, the hosts might be tempted to play an extra batter rather than a fourth spinner or a second left-arm orthodox bowler. If Sudharsan replaces Gill, bringing in Reddy for Axar could keep the left-right batting combination intact while potentially providing useful bowling options.
As India look to bounce back and level the series, all eyes will be on Pant’s captaincy debut and India’s lineup choices at this pivotal stage of the contest.
After the conclusion of the 2nd Test, the series will continue with three ODIs and five T20Is. The first ODI will begin on November 30 in Ranchi.
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