Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been added to South Africa’s pace attack in preparation for the second Test match against India in Guwahati. In the meantime, India is urgently trying to recover as the visitors lead the series 0-1 following a historic victory in Kolkata.
Kagiso Rabada’s fitness has been the main topic of discussion leading up to the Guwahati Test. The top fast bowler’s recuperation from a rib injury that kept him out of the Kolkata Test is yet unknown. South Africa achieved an incredible 30-run victory at Eden Gardens without Rabada, marking their first Test triumph on Indian territory since 2010. Interestingly, Guwahati will host its first Test match.
The South Africa team has leaned towards Ngidi as Rabada’s availability is still uncertain.
Despite taking 58 wickets in 20 Test matches, the 29-year-old has seldom appeared in red-ball cricket in the last two years. He played just one Test in India in 2019, and his most recent Test match was in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June.
Ngidi has been busy in white-ball cricket despite having little red-ball action lately. He has played for the Titans in the CSA T20 Challenge and taken part in South Africa’s ODI and T20I tours of Pakistan. His
Along with Corbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen spearheaded South Africa’s pace assault in Kolkata, applying pressure to the home team. The arrival of Ngidi has given South Africa the adaptability to change their strategy.
India, on the other hand, has its own problems. Shubman Gill has been cleared to travel but is still unlikely to play after retiring early from the Kolkata Test due to neck spasms. India could select seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy or go with left-handers Sai Sudharsan or Devdutt Padikkal.
The hosts are also concerned about the balance of their lineup. On the shifting Eden Gardens surface, Axar Patel had trouble, but Washington Sundar’s batting at the crease was impressive.
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