India vs South Africa, 2nd Test, South Africa tour of India, 2025

India’s must-win game after batting collapse in Kolkata 

Betting Odds

Our Predictions 

• The odds of the toss winner being the match winner are 2.47 
• The odds of the toss winner not being the match winner are 7.34 
• The odds of the first boundary being a four are 1.02 
• The odds of the first boundary being a six are 18.05 

MATCH PREVIEW     

We are all set for an interesting contest in the two-match series. The Indians messed it up in the 1st Test Match at Kolkata, losing by 30 runs. It was a poor batting performance in the 4th inning that cost them the game. The odds were in their favor, with the team set a target of 124 runs to win. However, they have an excellent record against the South Africans at home and shall look to draw inspiration from their past victories. The South Africans will have their tails up after humbling the hosts in the last game. They are on the cusp of a historic Test series win in India after 25 years. The Indians won’t go down without fighting, and we expect a close game.  

India Preview      

Rishabh Pant takes the hot seat with Shubman Gill out of action due to an injury. It will be a high-pressure battle for the hosts after their loss in the 1st Test. The batting lineup earned a lot of criticism for its poor approach in the last game. The team has a good record at home against the South Africans and shall start as favorites on cricket betting sites. Pant would like a strong comeback from his batters in this game.  

Yashasvi Jaiswal has a poor record in India, and the team expects him to take more responsibility and deliver a good start with KL Rahul. Sai Sudarshan replaces Shubman Gill and must do well at No. 3, building partnerships with Devdutt Padikkal and Rishabh Pant. The lower middle order has done well in the last 12 months, and the team expects runs from Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar.  

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj must exploit the early conditions in the game and deliver early wickets to the team. The Indian spin attack troubled the South Africans in the last game, and the team expects Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav to do well. Washington Sundar must deliver the goods in the supporting role.  

Expected Starting XI for India     

Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj 

South Africa Preview     

Temba Bavuma would be confident after his team’s heroics in the last game. While no cricket betting app had them as the favorites to win the last game, the team defied all odds and played a spin trick on the Indians. However, Bavuma would know that the Indians will come hard at them in this game and expects a good show from his players.  

Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton started well in the last game, and the team expects the pair to deliver a strong start. Temba Bavuma played a match-winning knock in the last game, and he will look to build partnerships in the middle order with Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi. Kyle Verreynne and Tristan Stubbs struggled in the last game and must do well in the lower middle order.  

The bowling attack had a dream game in Kolkata and shall feel confident here. Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder will look to strike early in the contest. Simon Harmer got under the skin of the Indians in the last game and must use the conditions well alongside Keshav Maharaj. Corbin Bosch and Aiden Markram add to the team’s bowling options, making it strong.  

Expected Starting XI for South Africa     

Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj 

TOSS: To Bat First      

The morning session will be tough on the first two days, but they will also be the best days for batting. We expect the wicket to start breaking from Day 3, when the spinners will have assistance from the track. The team winning the toss would look to bat first in this game.  

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS      

We expect clear skies over Guwahati on all days. The surface will be flat, where the batsmen will be able to do well once they get their eyes set in. Spinners will benefit greatly from this surface. The team batting first in this game would look to have 400 runs on the board.  

OUR PREDICTION      

The South Africans will be confident after snatching a win from the jaws of defeat in the last game. However, the team doesn’t have a consistent track record in the subcontinent. They need to bat well to win this game. The Indians have a strong spin attack that will favor them in these conditions. We expect a close game, but the Indians will have an edge.  

Our prediction is for India to win