India and South Africa are gearing up to lock horns in the second and final Test of the ongoing series. The much-awaited clash will commence from January 3 at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town. The hosts already took 1-0 lead in the series, winning the first Test by an innings and 32 runs.

In terms of the first Test, India’s batters battled in front of the Proteas’ pace attack after being invited to bat first. The hosts put India at 24/3 in the first 12 overs. However, a late century from KL Rahul helped India to post 245 runs in their first innings. Kagiso Rabada and Nandre Burger were the pick of bowlers for South Africa in the first innings, who have picked up five and three wickets, respectively.

The Indian pacers then failed to impress as India conceded a mammoth total of 408. Dean Elgar (185), David Bedingham (56), and Marco Jansen (84*) performed exceptionally well for the hosts. For India, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj made four and two scalps respectively. India batters struggled in the third innings as well, being bowled out for 131 and allowing the hosts to take the 1-0 lead.

India would be eager to level the series when they face off Temba Bavuma and Co. in the final Test. The Indian batters like Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer were sweating hard at the nets ahead of the second Test.  Meanwhile, the visitors are expected to bring in Ravindra Jadeja in the playing XI for Ravichandran Ashwin as he had a dismal outing in Centurion, picking just one wicket for 41. In addition, India might drop Prasidh Krishna, who made his Test debut in Centurion, and might give a chance to Mukesh Kumar to bolster their pace attack.