IND vs SA: "Dont Think South Africa ..." - Sunil Gavaskar Backs India To Win 2nd Test In Cape Town

Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar has backed India to win the second Test in Cape Town saying that the South African batters cannot post a challenging score for the Indians in the second innings.

South Africa are 62/3 at stumps on day 1 after India were bowled out for 153. They still trail by 36 runs and were bowled out for 55 in the first innings themselves.

South Africa has already lost their top three batters in the second innings and Gavaskar feels that the rest of the batters cannot post a challenging score for India in the second innings. Dean Elgar on his final Test scored 4 and 12 in the two innings. Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi scored one each and were dismissed.

Dont Think South Africa Have Batters Who Can Score 150-200 Runs: Sunil Gavaskar

“Three wickets have already fallen. India are still in the lead. So I don’t think this match can go out of India’s grasp. Yes, it might not be an innings victory. They (India) might have to bat a little but I don’t think South Africa have batters who can score 150-200 runs and trouble the Indian team a little” said Gavaskar on Star Sports as he shared his thoughts on day 1.

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Aiden Markram (36) and David Bedingham (7) were unbeaten at stumps at the end of day 1. The duo needs to bat long and take the hosts to a score of respectability.

Former South African pacer Vernon Philander who was a part of that discussion was also asked about South Africa’s decision to bat first on the Cape Town wicket. He said Elgar’s decision was influenced by the initial overhead conditions.

“It’s always a tricky one. Dean Elgar based his decision merely on overhead conditions. I think it was blistering hot conditions this morning and often when the sun is out in Newlands, you want to bat. Of course, the surface has shown us otherwise” he said.

While Gavaskar thinks South Africa does not have much of a chance in the game, Philander thinks otherwise. He thinks that South Africa are still in with a chance to win the match if they get a lead close to 100.

“For me personally, I feel South Africa get 80 to 100 runs ahead, they are still not out of the game. I don’t think this wicket is going to get easier. I think it’s going to get quicker with the sun and, of course, with a couple of heavier rollers. It might just leave us with an interesting Day 2” he said.

Mohammed Siraj triggered a collapse for South Africa on Day 1 as they were bowled out for 55. India were also bowled out for 153 losing their last six wickets for no score at all. Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Nandre Burger took three wickets each to bowl out India on a 23-wicket day in Cape Town. The first day saw several records being broken and it has set up an exciting day’s of cricket heading into day 2 of this Test match.

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