The Indian cricket team and the South Africa National Cricket Team are gearing up for the second and final Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, starting on November 22. South Africa thrashed the Indian cricket team by 30 runs in the first Test inside three days at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
India’s chase turned into a nightmare at Eden Gardens, where nothing went right for the home side as preparing a rank turner backfired for them. With Shubman Gill ruled out due to a sudden neck spasm, India walked into the fourth innings already under pressure.
Chasing a paltry 124, the Indian cricket team’s innings fell apart in dramatic fashion as Simon Harmer tore through the lineup with a four-wicket burst that completely broke their backbone. Balls were kept low, some kicked off the surface, and batters had no clue which delivery would stay down or jump up.
Indian cricket team collapse on a rank turner as South Africa eye Test series sweep in Guwahati
Well, the Eden Gardens pitch turned into the biggest talking point of the match. Right from Day 1, the surface had shown unpredictable bounce, but by the final innings, it became almost impossible to trust. Batters looked uncomfortable throughout the game, and across all four innings, only a single player from both teams managed to reach a half-century.
That was Temba Bavuma, who fought through the chaos in the third innings and helped South Africa set a tricky target of 124. South Africa’s bowlers then used the surface perfectly, hitting the cracks, extracting sharp turns, and letting the pitch do the rest at the Eden Gardens.
On the other hand, the Indian cricket team completely crumbled under pressure, bundled out for just 93, losing the game by 30 runs at the Eden Gardens with South Africa taking a 1-0 lead in the ongoing two-match Test series. It was South Africa’s first Test win in India after 15 years.
Team India refuses to leave Eden Gardens
Meanwhile, after the first Test ended on Sunday, November 16, the Indian cricket team is not ready to leave the Eden Gardens. The second and final Test is scheduled to be held in Guwahati, but still, the hosts are in Kolkata and are set to prepare on the same pitch at the Eden Gardens.
As reported by ESPNCricinfo, the Indian cricket team has a training session in Kolkata on Tuesday (November 18) morning, and the squad is scheduled to fly to Guwahati for the second Test on Wednesday (November 19).
Shubman Gill likely to miss Guwahati Test
The report revealed that Shubman Gill, who was admitted to a Kolkata hospital after suffering a neck spasm during the Kolkata Test, was finally discharged on Monday (November 17). However, Gill is not expected to join the team during their practice session at Eden Gardens.
The Indian captain has been advised to rest completely, and the medical team will keep checking his condition over the next two days. Additionally, he is unlikely to fly to Guwahati with the rest of the squad, as the doctors have said that commercial flights are not safe for someone recovering from a neck issue.
This has put Gill’s availability for the second Test in serious jeopardy.