Saturday sees South Africa continue its 2025 tour of India with a Test match in Guwahati. This is the second of two Tests as part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship, with the Proteas winning the 1st Test earlier this week in Kolkata.
This is a mixed tour featuring both red-ball and white-ball cricket. After the Tests, India will host the Proteas for three ODIs in early December. Five T20Is will follow the 50-over matches to conclude the tour, with the final one on December 19 in Ahmedabad.
Here is a look ahead at the contest.
India VS South Africa 2nd Test Venue: Assam CSA, Guwahati
India VS South Africa 2nd Test Date: Saturday, November 22 to Wednesday, November 26
India VS South Africa 2nd Test Odds:
History
India has not been a happy hunting ground for South Africa’s Test side. The Proteas last toured the subcontinent in the format in 2019, losing all three Tests.
The time before that was just as bleak. In 2015/16, India won a four-match Test series 3-0. Even the Test that was eventually rained out offered no respite, with India well on their way to winning that match before the weather intervened.
That is what made the shocking 1st Test win in Kolkata all the sweeter. This is a place where South Africa doesn’t win, yet the skill and confidence that oozes through the Proteas in Test cricket is a joy to watch.
There was always a suggestion that winning the toss here was going to be critical. South Africa did this, electing to bat on a wicket that ended up heavily favoring the bowlers.
South Africa put up 159, a total that seemed entirely beatable. India replied with 189, before the Proteas set their hosts a total that required just 124 from their second innings. India didn’t get close, with Player of the Match Simon Hamer bettering his 4/30 figures from the first innings by bowling a stunning 4/21 from his 14 overs.
India were all out for 93 and the Proteas won by 30 runs.
India
India is looking to avoid a second home series defeat in their last three. This comes after an astonishing 12 years of winning all the home series they played.
Ravindra Jadeja was almost unplayable for spells in the first Test. His battle with Hamer to be the best spinner in the match will go a long way towards deciding the winner.
Shubman Gil, India’s captain, will miss this one after retiring hurt with a neck injury in Kolkata.
South Africa
Hamer is going to be huge for South Africa again. He and Marco Jansen were the pick of the bowlers, especially as Keshav Maharaj was surprisingly out of form.
The three bowlers will have to pick up the slack, given that Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out for this Test and the rest of the tour with a rib bone injury.
Best Bets
Two-match series are the worst in Test cricket. It is too easy for the series to end drawn, and the intrigue that builds with successive Tests is unfulfilled.
The pitch is a talking point. Guwahati becomes the most eastern Test venue in India, with the match starting at 9 am to avoid the early sunset. Adapting to the early start is key, especially with the wicket expected to be batter-friendly early before slowly turning.
India will win this; their public basically demands it.
