India vs South Africa 2015 2nd Test Match: Preview, Team News, Live stream and TV Channel Info

Can Virat Kohli and Co. make it 2-0?

After India defeated South Africa by 108 runs in the series opener at Mohali in a low-scoring match which drew to a close within three days, the cricket bandwagon moves to Bengaluru now or should we say wet Bengaluru. The city has received a lot of rain in the past week and one hopes that the clouds clear and we get full five days of play, starting tomorrow.

On the field, the Proteas have their own demons to counter. Vernon Philander has been ruled out of the series after a freak accident during a football game in practice left him with a injured ankle. To further add to that loss, their premier fast bowler Dale Steyn will also miss the encounter due to a groin strain which kept him out of bowling in the second innings at Mohali, which is certainly a colossal loss for them.

But all isn't gloom and doom for them. After having missed the opening Test, Morne Morkel, and JP Duminy are likely to return to the playing XI. While the return of the former would boost the pace attack, the latter's return to the line-up will provide the team a much-needed strength in the spin attack apart from his obvious strengths with the bat.

With Steyn missing out, it could also mean extra responsibility on the shoulders of one of the best young cricketers in the game today, Kagiso Rabada. Kyle Abbott, the replacement for Steyn, will also have to step up his game and provide the much-needed support. That now means that the visitors would either have to go for the control of Simon Harmer or the attacking Imran Tahir.

The batting will revolve around Hashim Amla, who is yet to make a big score of substance on this tour, having accumulated 38 runs in the 2 T20IS, 89 runs in the 5 ODIs and 43 runs combined in the Test at Mohali, Faf du Plessis and AB De Villiers, who will feature in his 100th Test at a venue, which is surely his second home.

Hashim Amla’s bat hasn't done the talking so far on this tour

South Africa will have fond memories of the Chinnaswamy Stadium as this is the venue where they clinched their first Test series win on Indian soil 15 years ago, completing a 2-0 sweep of the series.

India, on the other hand, have only one major issue to ponder over – the form of Shikhar Dhawan. The left-hander got a pair and was caught in the slips on both occasions in the first Test and another failure could get the alarm bells ringing on his place.

Murali Vijay has provided solidity at the top and giving him company has been Chesteshwar Pujara, who has nailed his place at number 3 with some consistent showing.

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, who has scored 25 runs in the 4 innings at home will form the middle order again. Wriddhiman Saha, in association with Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Amit Mishra will also have a vital role to play and must ensure that the Indian lower order doesn't fall away quickly

Ishant Sharma is all set to return after serving his one-Test suspension and this is where Kohli has a tricky decision to make with regards to who should he replace: Umesh Yadav or Varun Aaron.

All-in-all, we are set for yet another cracking contest between two good sides and hopefully the weather gods remain merciful to everybody for the next 5 days.

Broadcast Details

Date: November 14, Saturday

Time: 9:30 A.M IST

TV Channel: Star Sports 1, HD1 (English) and 3, HD3 (Hindi)

Online Stream: www.starsports.com

Venue: Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Pitch & Conditions

As reported earlier, it has been raining persistently in Bengaluru over the last week and is almost certain to make its presence felt over the course of the five days. As for the pitch, one can expect another turner as India look to step up the pressure on the visitors.

India’s record at Bangalore: Matches:20 Won: 6 Lost: 6 Drawn: 8

South Africa’s record at Bangalore: Matches:1 Won:1 Lost:0 Drawn:0

Recent Form

India: W-W-L-D-D

South Africa: D-D-W-D-W

Predicted line-ups:

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(Captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha(wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron.

South Africa: Dean Elgar, Stiaan Van Zyl, Hashim Amla(Captain), Faf du Plessis, AB De Villiers, JP Duminy, Dane Vilas(wicketkeeper), Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir