Is Ravindra Jadeja playing today’s IND vs SA 2nd Test in Cape Town?
Team India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been included in the playing XI for the second Test against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town. The 35-year-old missed the first Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion due to back spasms.
In Jadeja’s absence, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was included in the playing XI as the lone spin option. Ashwin was economical in Centurion, registering figures of 1-41 from 19 overs.
Jadeja comes in for Ashwin as the visitors look to square the two-match series. India also made another change, bringing in Mukesh Kumar for Shardul Thakur. Meanwhile, South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Team India captain Rohit Sharma confirmed that all the players in the squad are fit and available for selection.
India went down to South Africa by an innings and 32 runs in the first Test. Sent into bat after losing the toss, the visitors folded up for 245 in 67.4 overs. KL Rahul scored a resolute hundred, but there was not much resistance from the others.
In the second innings, Virat Kohli (76) was the only batter to score 30 as the visitors folded up for 131 in 34.1 overs.
The visitors’ bowling also struggled in the opening Test against the South Africans. Jasprit Bumrah was the standout performer with figures of 4-69 from 26.4 overs, but Thakur (1-101 from 19 overs) and debutant Prasidh Krishna (1-93 from 20 overs) were very expensive as South Africa put up 408 in their first innings, gaining a significant lead of 163 runs.
Ravindra Jadeja’s Test record in South Africa
Jadeja has played only one Test in South Africa, which was in Durban in 2013. He failed with the bat, scoring 0 and 8.
Jadeja, though, made an impact with his left-arm spin, claiming 6-138 in 58.2 overs in South Africa’s first innings. Jadeja got the big scalps of Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy and Jacques Kallis.
South Africa, though, won the Test by ten wickets. India were out for 334 and 223, while the Proteas responded with 500 in their first innings before chasing down a target of 58 with all wickets in hand.