Sunil Gavaskar predicts India will win the second Test versus South Africa. His rationale: the other Proteas batters probably won’t leave a tough fourth-innings score for the visitors.
On Wednesday, January 3, in Cape Town, Dean Elgar chose to bat first, and India easily defeated South Africa for a pitiful 55. But after being bowled out for 153, Rohit Sharma and co. reduced the hosts to 62/3 in their second innings, meaning that with seven wickets remaining, the Proteas were still down by 36 runs.
When asked what he felt about the condition of the game at Stumps on Day 1 at a Star Sports talk, Sunil Gavaskar said:
“Three wickets have already fallen. India are still in the lead. So I don’t think this match can go out of India’s grasp. Yes, it might not be an innings victory.”
Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar added:
“They (India) might have to bat a little but I don’t think South Africa have batters who can score 150-200 runs and trouble the Indian team a little.”
Sunil Gavaskar
Currently, South African batsmen, Aiden Markram (36) and David Bedingham (7) are not out. They’re backed by Kyle Verreynne, the wicketkeeper-batter, and Marco Jansen, an all-rounder. The final four players are specialist bowlers, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger, and Lungi Ngidi.
Vernon Philander reveals why Dean Elgar chose to bat first in 2nd Test against India
When questioned about Dean Elgar’s choice to bat first and his predictions for the second day of play, Vernon Philander responded as follows:
“It’s always a tricky one. Dean Elgar based his decision merely on overhead conditions. I think it was blistering hot conditions this morning and often when the sun is out in Newlands, you want to bat. Of course, the surface has shown us otherwise.”
Vernon Philander
If the hosts gain a lead approaching 100, the former South Africa bowler believes they can still make a match of it. He thought to himself:
“For me personally, I feel South Africa get 80 to 100 runs ahead, they are still not out of the game. I don’t think this wicket is going to get easier. I think it’s going to get quicker with the sun and, of course, with a couple of heavier rollers. It might just leave us with an interesting Day 2.”
Vernon Philander
India’s first-inning collapse from 153/4 to 153 all out would undoubtedly give South Africa faith that they might easily dismiss the visitors in the second essay. In a possible pursuit of more than 100 runs, a few early wickets might put the Indian players in the dog house.