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India vs South Africa 2nd Test: India are in a desperate need of an improved outing, not only to win the next game but also to level the two-match series. They face yet another threat of a series defeat at home, having suffered a 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand last year. Gill's presence in the no.4 position will also be missed as the young batter's neck injury has also made him doubtful for the upcoming ODI series against the Proteas.

India had a horrible outing with the bat in the Kolkata Test and were bowled out for just 93 runs in the second Test at the Eden Gardens while chasing the 124-run target, losing the match by 30 runs. This was South Africa's first Test match win in India in 15 years. While Temba Bavuma played a crucial knock of unbeaten 55 runs in the second innings, Simon Harmer produced a match-winning effort of 8 wickets in the game and was adjudged as the Player of the Match.

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Who Will Captain India In 2nd Test Against South Africa?

As Gill gets ruled out and is set to visit a specialist in Mumbai, India will have a new captain in Rishabh Pant for the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati. This will be the first time Pant will lead India in the longest format of the game.

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Notably, the ongoing series marked his comeback in international cricket after a long injury break. He remained on the sidelines after picking up a foot injury during the England tour earlier this year. He has been an impressive performer for India in Tests over the past few years. However, he managed to score 27 and 2 in the first Test. All eyes will be on India's batting order in the absence of Gill. "We will announce the team combination tomorrow. We have already sort of decided and spoken to the player," Pant told reporters on Friday regarding Gill’s replacement in the playing XI.

"I think he is getting better. He was very keen on playing this Test. I got to know yesterday that I will be the captain," revealed the wicketkeeper-batter, who will be India’s 38th Test captain.


IND vs SA 2nd Test Squads

India Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan, Akash Deep

South Africa Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan, Akash Deep

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