IND vs SA, 2nd Test: Rishabh Pant’s captaincy debut starts with another lost toss

India’s poor run with the coin toss continued on Saturday, even under a new captain, as Guwahati hosted its maiden Test.

Rishabh Pant, leading India for the first time in the second and final Test against South Africa at the Barsapara Stadium, called the toss wrong after Temba Bavuma opted for heads — and got it right.

Pant became India’s 38th Test captain and the first wicketkeeper-batter to lead the side since MS Dhoni. South Africa chose to bat, taking early control on what is expected to be a balanced surface. The red-soil pitch is forecast to favour batters for two days before assisting spinners later on.

This was India’s eighth lost toss in nine Tests. Shubman Gill, who missed the Guwahati Test due to a neck issue, had lost all five tosses in England earlier this year but still secured a 2–2 series draw in his first stint as captain. He won a toss against the West Indies in Delhi in October but again lost the opener of this series in Kolkata, where South Africa used a difficult, uneven pitch to seal a narrow win. India failed to chase 124 in a chaotic final innings.

Pant was expected to bring a change in luck, but the streak continued.
“We feel the wicket is good for batting. But bowling first is not a bad option either,” Pant said after the toss.

India Make Two Changes

India brought in Sai Sudharsan for Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy for the injured Gill. Despite talk of adding a right-hander from outside the squad to break the heavy left-handed line-up — India played six left-handers in Kolkata — the team stuck with Reddy. Sudharsan, omitted in Kolkata, returns and is likely to bat at No. 3.

South Africa made one change, drafting spin-bowling all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy for pacer Corbin Bosch as they opted for a three-spinner attack, expecting to bowl last on this pitch.

Playing XIs

South Africa: Markram, Rickelton, Stubbs, Bavuma (C), de Zorzi, Mulder, Muthusamy, Verreynne (WK), Jansen, Harmer, Maharaj. India: Rahul, Jaiswal, Sudharsan, Jurel, Pant (C/WK), Jadeja, Reddy, Sundar, Kuldeep, Bumrah, Siraj.

Version 2: Tighter, More Energetic

New captain, same old story: India’s toss misfortune rolled on as Rishabh Pant lost his first flip in Test cricket at Guwahati, which made its debut as a Test venue on Saturday. Pant became India’s 38th captain — and first wicketkeeper-batter since MS Dhoni — but Bavuma’s call of ‘heads’ proved decisive as South Africa chose to bat on a pitch expected to aid batters early and spinners later.

India have now lost eight of their last nine tosses, a streak that began when Shubman Gill lost all five in England earlier this year. Even Gill’s lone toss win in Delhi was followed by another loss in Kolkata last week, which proved costly on a difficult surface as India failed to chase 124.

Pant brushed aside the toss talk: “The wicket is good for batting, but bowling first isn’t too bad either.”

India’s Changes

Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy came in for Axar Patel and the injured Gill. Despite speculation about bringing in a right-hander from outside the squad, India stuck to their available options. Sudharsan is set to slot in at No. 3.

South Africa went with three spinners, bringing in Senuran Muthusamy for pacer Corbin Bosch.

(Playing XIs same as above.)

Version 3: Short, Crisp, Web-Friendly

Rishabh Pant’s captaincy debut began with yet another lost toss as India’s luck deserted them again in the second Test in Guwahati, the city’s first-ever Test match. Pant became India’s 38th Test captain and first wicketkeeper-leader since MS Dhoni, but Bavuma called correctly and chose to bat on a surface expected to favour batters early.

India have now lost eight of their last nine tosses, a sequence that shaped several recent results, including the defeat in Kolkata last week.

India made two changes — Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy in for Axar Patel and the injured Gill — while South Africa replaced Corbin Bosch with spinner Senuran Muthusamy, adding more spin depth.