Know India's likely playing XI for the 2nd Test vs South Africa in Guwahati

In a major blow to Indian cricket ahead of the second Test against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on November 22, their captain, Shubman Gill, has been ruled out of the clash. He travelled with the tea as his recovery was on the right track, but the BCCI team feels that Gill would be far from match fitness and will be cleared to take the field.

Shubman Gill was hoping to have a long hit in the nets, but the management was not keen to take a risk on the right-handed batter. The think tank is hoping to get him fully fit ahead of the three-match ODI series starting next week. The management was happy to play the waiting game with Gill and was willing to wait.

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Gill’s deputy, Rishabh Pant, led the side in the absence of Gill last week and is prepared to continue shouldering the responsibility. The team, however, will need to take some tough playing XI calls in the absence of their regular number four.

India likely to bring back Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Reddy for IND vs SA Guwahati Test

The management is likely to bring back Sai Sudharsan at number three, having been dropped from the eleven for the Kolkata Test. The southpaw was in decent touch during the second West Indies Test in Delhi. They are also likely to bring back Nitish Kumar Reddy in the middle order.

India’s batting coach, Shitanshu Kotak, shed light on the fact that they were not eager to touch the several numbers of the left-handed batters. He informed that even with right-handed batters, it would not have mattered against the left-arm spinner, Keshav Maharaj.

“You tell me one thing; they had a left-arm spinner also. If we had seven right-handed batsmen, then? They had a left-arm spinner and an off-spinner also. I believe that you have to play well. Off-spinner bowling to a left-hander does not mean the left-hander has to get out. We had two left-arm spinners (in the first Test), they had nine right-handers; did they get out? So maybe that thing is a little overrated.” Kotak informed.