India head coach Rahul Dravid has a conversation with skipper Virat Kohli ahead of the second Test between India and South Africa.
India will take on South Africa in the second Test of the three-match series here at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg starting from January 3, Monday. However, as per the weather report from Johannesburg, the first day of the match is likely to be washed out. In the first Test, Day 2 was washed out without bowling being bowled in Centurion.
South Africa skipper Dean Elgar says he was initially "shocked" at Quinton de Kock's sudden retirement from Test cricket but insisted that the team will take the setback in its stride and strive to level the ongoing series against India. De Kock, only 29, announced his retirement from the traditional format at the end of the opening Test against India, which the hosts lost by 113 runs at SuperSport Park on Thursday.
It feels harsh at times but we need to get better at it: Dravid after India's over-rate penalty
India head coach Rahul Dravid on Sunday admitted his team needs to do better at maintaining over-rate after being docked one WTC point following the first Test against South Africa in Centurion though he felt "leeway" can be given in certain cases. Points deduction from the World Test Championship tally for over-rate offences could prove costly for any team in its bid to reach the final. England were recently fined eight WTC points for being eight overs short in the Brisbane Test against Australia.
Team India sweating it out in the nets. Check Pictures
India captain Virat Kohli during net session
India Predicted Playing XI: KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur/Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
IND vs SA, 2nd Test: Kohli's India ready to roll over South Africa for elusive series win
India's formidably consistent match-winners have a date with history in the New Year when they take on an out-of-sorts South Africa in the second Test here from Monday in pursuit of a coveted first-ever series win in the 'Rainbow Nation'.
If the 'Boxing Day Test' was used to breach the Proteas' fortress at the Centurion, the New Year's game will be all about stoutly defending the 'Bull Ring' bastion which has been a 'home' away from home for the Indian team.
Also, it was right here in 2018 when the foundation of one of India's greatest Test teams was laid with a solid win on a track that bordered on under-prepared and perhaps gave this unit self belief to take on the world.
They have been doing that for nearly four years now and are in no mood to stop.
For captain Virat Kohli, a Test victory at the Wanderers would reaffirm his status as one of the greatest Indian captains of all time in the traditional format with series wins in three of the four SENA nations barring New Zealand.
India vs South Africa, 2nd Test: Kohli has been phenomenal over the last 20 days, says Dravid
India Test skipper Virat Kohli has been phenomenal despite "all the noise around him", head coach Rahul Dravid said on Sunday, lending support to the superstar batter who is locked in a war of words with the BCCI over the way his white-ball captaincy tenure ended.
"Virat has been phenomenal over the last 20 days. The way he has trained and prepared, the way he has connected with the group has been fantastic inspite of all the noise around him," Dravid said on the eve of the second Test against South Africa.
Kohli kicked up a storm by stating that he was never asked to reconsider leaving T20I captaincy as asserted by BCCI President Sourav Ganguly.
His statement was met with a rebuttal from chief selector Chetan Sharma who said that Kohli was requested to hold his decision at least till the end of the T20 World Cup.
Asked, why he has not addressed the media so far in the tour, Dravid said, "There is no specific reason for that. I don't decide this but I am told he will be speaking on eve of his 100th Test. Then you can ask all the questions on his 100th Test."
Kohli's 100th Test would be the third match against South Africa in Cape Town from January 11.
Squads:
India Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), KL Rahul (vc), Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Jayant Yadav, Priyank Panchal, Umesh Yadav, Hanuma Vihari, Ishant Sharma.
South Africa Squad: Dean Elgar (captain), Temba Bavuma (vice-captain), Kagiso Rabada, Sarel Erwee, Beuran Hendricks, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Glenton Stuurman, Prenelan Subrayen, Sisanda Magala, Ryan Rickelton, Duanne Olivier.
Match: South Africa vs India, 2nd Test
Date: Monday, January 03-Friday, January 07
Time: 1:30 PM
Venue: The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
