3 things to look forward to in the 2nd India vs South Africa Test ft. Rishabh Pant the captain

India are all set to lock horns with South Africa in the second Test at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday, November 22. The hosts are 1-0 down in the two-match series and desperately need a win to stay alive in the 2025-27 World Test Championship.

The Proteas took an unprecedented lead with an admirable performance in Kolkata. Things are clearly not ideal in the home team's camp, with various members of the support staff coming up with contradictory statements.

India's Test form has been scrutinized heavily in recent times, adding a thick layer of intrigue to one of the world's most entertaining contests.

India's squad for the Test series vs South Africa: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk) (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep.

South Africa's squad for the Test series vs India: 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.

On that note, here are three things to look forward to in the second Test between India and South Africa.

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#3 What kind of surface will Guwahati produce?

Asia Cup Cricket - Source: Getty

Gautam Gambhir claimed that the Eden Gardens pitch was perfect, but Sitanshu Kotak soon refuted those comments. He stated that the Indian head coach wanted to protect the curators, and that the wicket didn't meet the hosts' expectations.

What kind of wicket will Guwahati produce? Test cricket is uncharted waters for the Barsapara Stadium, and initial indications have varied dramatically. While a good batting surface is on the cards for the first two days, how the pitch fares as the game wears on remains to be seen.

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#2 Rishabh Pant will lead India in a Test match

England v India - 4th Rothesay Test Match: Day Five - Source: Getty

With Shubman Gill ruled out, Rishabh Pant will wear the blazer at the toss for the first time. The keeper-batter has gone through a lot to get to where he is right now, and India will hope that he can lead them well both with the bat and on the field.

Pant curiously claimed that stepping in for just one Test isn't ideal, but any opportunity to captain the national team should be welcomed with open arms. He has been criticized at times for his leadership in the Indian Premier League, so whether he takes to the red-ball role is also something to keep an eye on.

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#1 Can Dhruv Jurel and Sai Sudharsan step up for the hosts?

India A Vs Australia A 1st Unofficial Test Match Played At The Ekana Cricket Stadium Lucknow - Source: Getty

India are all set to play Sai Sudharsan at No. 3 and Dhruv Jurel at No. 4 in Guwahati. In Gill's absence, the young duo will need to step up. Not only is the series on the line, but the World Test Championship is also in a precarious position.

India don't play Test cricket until August 2026 after the Guwahati Test, and leaving a positive impression in the minds of the selectors will be high on the two players' agenda. Sai Sudharsan and Jurel are both immensely talented, and they will need to prove that they are the future of a team going through a challenging transition at the moment.