While the Indian team is riddled with problems at the moment after losing the first Test in Kolkata, all seems to be going right for the South African team. There is uncertainty over Shubman Gill’s fitness, the spin-playing capability of batters is under scanner, there is widespread criticism — and they don’t have the best replacement for the injured.
Lungi Ngidi Added to South Africa Squad
On the other hand, while Kagiso Rabada did not play the first Test, and yet the visitors managed to win, that only shows the strength they possess. In fact, Rabada might not be a 100% to play in the Guwahati Test as well, that starts on November 22, and South Africa have called Lungi Ngidi as a cover.
Rabada had picked up a rib injury during a training session before the Kolkata Test, and might just sit out in the second. Ngidi is no newbie, and last played for the Proteas during the WTC final vs Australia. In 20 Tests he has 58 wickets to his name. Apart from this, there were also unconfirmed reports, that two of SA players went to Woodland Hospital in Kolkata for check up, but the exact reason is not known.
As far as India is concerned, they have drafted Nitish Kumar Reddy into the team, and is most likely to play in place of Shubman in the second Test. There is Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal in the squad, but then the team already has six lefties, and given Harmer’s prowess against them, India would not want to repeat that mistake.
SA Full Squad
Temba Bavuma (C), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Lungi Ngidi.
