Virat Kohli?s big hundred in the test will come soon says head coach Rahul Dravid: Team India?s head coach Rahul Dravid has expressed his delight in working with the red ball Indian skipper Virat Kohli. Dravid said that Kohli has done extremely well in keeping the morale of the team high and is training hard.?



Dravid also said that big centuries from the bat of Kohli will come soon as the batting legend is intensely involved in his practice.&nbsp;



?In terms of keeping the morale high, it?s not difficult. Kohli does it and he is superb, the way he has trained, practiced. There?s not really much a coach can do when the match starts. Virat has been phenomenal in keeping the team in good space,? said Rahul Dravid ahead of the 2nd test against South Africa.



?It?s a pleasure to work with someone like Virat. Personally, he is in a really good space. I feel there is a run of big runs coming soon, observing how he is practicing, how involved he is.?



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He further told that Virat Kohli has done a superb job to keep the Indian side in good spirits despite the loud outer noise around him and his captaincy.



?Credit to him and the team, despite all that?s happening around,? said Dravid.



The Indian coach concluded by praising the skipper for his supreme efforts in difficult times as well. The way Virat has led team India is nothing short of phenomenal.



?There has been a lot of noise on other issues and Virat has been phenomenal in the way he has led the team. He has been committed to his own training and also the way he has connected with his team. We are in a good space and it was led by Virat,? concluded Dravid.



Team India will play the second test match against South Africa at Johannesburg, starting 3rd January 2022.



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Virat Kohli?s big hundred in the test will come soon says head coach Rahul Dravid

virat-kohlis-big-hundred-in-the-test-will-come-says-coach-rahul-dravid

SA vs IND 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction: After harassing South Africa in the opening test match at Centurion by 113 runs, Virat Kohli-led team India is all set to ink history in the South African soil by winning a test series. Team India has never won a test match series in South Africa, and the opportunity that lies ahead is perfect for the Indians to turn the pages of record.



The second SA vs IND test match will begin on Monday 3rd January and both sides will be eager to begin the proceedings on a happy note.&nbsp;



South Africa has recently sustained a blow as experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock announced his test retirement unexpectedly. The hosts will certainly miss the services of the stumper batsman who looked in a good shape in the 1st test match. More so because the two other wicketkeeper batsmen South Africa has named are not adequately experienced to fill the vacant shoes of de Kock.



Team India on the other hand will be happy with how their players are contributing towards overseas success. The pace unit of the team has been phenomenal and credit should be given to them for restricting the opposition to a low score and making things a bit easy for the batters.



Virat and his men are 1-nil in the series and would be hoping to extend that lead to 2-nil and breach South Africa for the very first time in history.



<h3>Match Details:</h3>



Fixture: South Africa vs India, 2nd Test



Day/Date: Jan 03, Mon - Jan 07, Fri



Venue: The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg



Time: 1:30 PM (IST)



<h2>SA vs IND 2nd test match Pitch Report:</h2>



The surface at Johannesburg is expected to aid the pacers on opening two days while it will shift towards the batters on the third day. The cracks will produce erratic bounce and trouble the batsman as the match progresses.



The last time India played here in 2018, it turned out to be disastrous for the stadium. ICC rated the pitch as poor and three demerit points were slapped to the ground. Moreover, the groundsmen lost their jobs for curating such a dangerous pitch.



It must be noted that if a similar kind of surface is prepared, ICC will slap with a few more demerit points and the ground will lose its international status, which is very unlikely to happen.



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<h3>South Africa?s Probable Playing11 and Full Squad:</h3>



Dean Elgar (c), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi



Full Squad: Dean Elgar(c), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Keshav Maharaj, Rassie van der Dussen, Sisanda Magala, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne(w), Sarel Erwee,Wiaan Mulder, Duanne Olivier,Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Beuran Hendricks, Prenelan Subrayen, George Linde, Ryan Rickelton, Glenton Stuurman



<h3>India?s Probable Playing11 and Full Squad:</h3>



KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj



Full Squad: KL Rahul, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mayank Agarwal, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Priyank Panchal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Cheteshwar Pujara, Umesh Yadav, Hanuma Vihari, Shreyas Iyer, Wriddhiman Saha



<h2>SA vs IND 2nd Test Match Dream11 Fantasy Tips:</h2>



KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Dean Elgar (vc), Keegan Petersen, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant, Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammad Shami ?, Jasprit Bumrah, Lungi Ngidi



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SA vs IND 2nd Test Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Tips, Pitch Report, Preview, updates

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SA vs IND 2nd Test: Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar reckons Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane might have just one inning left in their test career to save it. Gavaskar said it while doing the commentary in the 2nd test match between South Africa and India.



Team India?s test number 3, Cheteshwar Pujara was dismissed for 3 runs in 33 deliveries while Ajinkya Rahane went back for a first-ball duck. The two batters departed in consecutive deliveries to force India on backfoot against South Africa on day one of the second test matches at Johannesburg.



With the dismissals, both of them again found themselves amidst the fan?s rage who demanded the management to replace both of them from the test team. Moreover, the fans asked to include Shreyas Iyer in the team, who had recently debuted in the test.



"After those two dismissals one can say that they probably have just the next innings, both Pujara and Rahane, to save their Test careers," Gavaskar said after the early dismissals of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.



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"There have been questions asked about their place in the team and now with these two dismissals they have just one innings left. If there is another innings and the way India is going, it looks like there will be another for them to score something and maybe keep their place in the team," the former India captain further added.



The form of Ajinkya Rahane has been poor lately. His dismal performance continued as he only scored 48 &amp; 20 in the two innings of the 1st test against South Africa.&nbsp;



Cheteshwar Pujara is not having a memorable time either. The test mainstay hasn?t scored a century since January 2019. Moreover, in the first test against South Africa could only manage a golden duck and 16 compounding on his batting woes. 



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SA vs IND 2nd Test: Pujara and Rahane have just one inning left in their test career: Sunil Gavaskar

pujara-and-rahane-have-just-one-inning-left-in-their-test-career-sunil-gavaskar

Virat Kohli will be fit very soon, says Cheteshwar Pujara giving an update on Virat?s injury.



Indian red-ball skipper Virat Kohli missed the ongoing Johannesburg test match against South Africa after sustaining an upper back spasm. The news came out when instead of Virat walking out for the toss, opener batsman KL Rahul showed up.



Soon the BCCI updated that the skipper has suffered an upper back spasm and won?t be available for the second match against South Africa. Hanuma Vihari was brought back in playing11 in Virat?s absence.



?Team India Captain Mr Virat Kohli had a spasm on his upper back this morning. He won?t feature in the second Test against South Africa at The Wanderers. The BCCI medical team will be monitoring him during the course of this Test match," wrote BCCI in a statement.



Team India?s test number 3, Cheteshwar Pujara, gave a much-needed update on Virat?s injury after the end of the play on day 3. Pujara, who scored a half-century in the second innings, said that Virat is recovering well and he will be fit very soon.



?Officially, I can?t say much but yes, he is definitely getting better and I feel that he will be fit soon. The physio can answer this better and I am sure an update will come from the BCCI very soon,? Pujara was quoted as saying to the reporters on Wednesday, January 5.



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Virat?s absence was a major shock for team India and clearly, India missed his services with Indian batting getting once again collapsed in the first innings after the loss of openers.&nbsp;



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As of now, the match looks slightly tilted towards the hosts, who stood up strong on day 3. South Africa managed to score 118 runs in the loss of two wickets. Now, SA have to score 122 more runs in order to seal the second test match and level the series, while India needs eight wickets to stamp their authority in the match as well as in the series.



Time constraints will not be an issue and we will definitely see a proper result. South African skipper Dean Elgar looked strong on day 3 even after taking many body blows. He is standing tall at 46 runs in 121 balls. To support the captain, Rassie van der Dussen is available at the other end at 11 runs from 37 deliveries.



For India Shardul Thakur picked one wicket while one went in the bag of Ravichandran Ashwin.



Though the match looks a bit poised towards the hosts, the surface can easily play its tricks and shift the dynamics towards India. It would be wrong to completely rule out India from the match.



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Virat Kohli will be fit very soon, says Cheteshwar Pujara giving an update on Virat?s injury

virat-kohli-will-be-fit-very-soon-says-cheteshwar-pujara-giving-an-update-on-virats-injury

Sunil Gavaskar Slams Rishabh Pant for throwing away his wicket against South Africa: Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has bashed young wicketkeeper-batsman, Rishabh Pant, for throwing away his wicket in the ongoing test series against South Africa. Adding on to his criticism, Gavaskar said that ?Rahul Dravid must have given him a bamboo.?



Pant charged down against Lungi Ngidi in the second innings of the second test match at the Wanderers Johannesburg and got himself out caught behind. Pant was dismissed for a three balls duck and left everyone speechless with his audacious approach to charge at the beginning of the innings.



It must be noted that Rishabh Pant hasn?t contributed much to the team?s success since the conclusion of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. He did score a few acceptable knocks every now and then, however, consistently hasn?t been there.



A fan on social media raised a query whether why everyone?s targetting Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane when Rishabh Pant too hasn?t contributed much since the test series against Australia?



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Replying to the fan?s query, Gavaskar replied, ?It's a valid question. This is something one could understand if Rishabh Pant had been batting on 30 and 40. This is something he had not done in Australia. There he applied himself, recognised that there will be hard times at the beginning when you come in to bat and then battling through the hard times, he got set and got to know how the pitch is. And then he played the big shots. That's what he did in Australia.?



Everyone was mesmerised with the way Pant charged down the wicket and smacked James Anderson for a six during the England tour of India, last year. He took that as a trademark for himself to put the bowler under pressure, but that hasn't worked for the cricketer in the recent past.



Gavaskar reckons that the stumper batsman can?t lean on a similar approach every time he comes out to play, at least not at the beginning of his innings.



"This is something we saw against England, at the start of the series. When England came to India, he was jumping down the pitch and trying to hit James Anderson? he did that so well. But after that he seems to think that is the only way to play. That is not the way to play and I am pretty certain that in the change room, Rahul Dravid would have given him a hearing, or as they say in cricket, Dravid must have given him a 'bamboo'," added Gavaskar.



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Sunil Gavaskar Slams Rishabh Pant for throwing away his wicket against South Africa

sunil-gavaskar-slams-rishabh-pant-for-throwing-away-his-wicket-against-south-africa

SA vs IND 2nd test: The entire cricket fraternity lauds Protea skipper Dean Elgar for showing lion hearted intent amidst tricky times to steer his team to the win against India in the second test match at Johannesburg.



Team India lost the 2nd test match by seven wickets, slightly denting India?s aspirations to lift the maiden test title in South Africa after touring for more than 30 years. Indians have been helpless in this part of the world as the Protea have one-sidedly won the test match series in their own backyard.



AS IT HAPPENED:



KL Rahul, India?s stand-in skipper in Virat Kohli?s absence, who sustained an upper back spasm, won the toss and opted to bat first. The opening partnership was once again going to be the key for the Indians, as the two openers could only amass 36 runs together before Mayank Agarwal?s wicket fell.



In the first innings of the 2nd test match, team India managed to score 202 runs in the loss of 10 wickets. Skipper KL Rahul top-scored with his half-century while R Ashwin added a healthy 46 runs at the backend.



Left-arm pacer Marco Jansen picked four wickets while three apiece fell in the bag of Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier.



In the chase of 202, South Africa lost Aiden Markram early in the innings. Dean Elgar and Keegan Peterson tried to pace the innings, however, the Indian pacers were brilliant enough to restrict the opposition to 229/10 with a small lead of 27 runs.



Keegan Peterson was the top run-scorer for SA with a good contribution of 62 runs while Temba Bavuma scored a quickfire 51 runs.



For India Shardul Thakur recorded his best ever test figure along with his maiden test fifer as he scalped 7 wickets while Mohammad Shami picked 2 and Jasprit Bumrah got one in his bag.



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In the second innings, India?s opening partnership disappointed, as stand-in skipper Rahul was sent back at a score of 8. However, the middle order to some extent soaked the pressure and provided a much-needed cushion.



As they say, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane gave priceless oxygen supplies to their test career by counter-attacking half-century knocks under pressure. Pujara scored 53 runs while Rahane managed 58 before getting dismissed.



Team India in its second innings could only muster 266 runs owing to the steady efforts of Hanuma Vihari, who scored unbeaten 40 runs and batted until the end.



Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen picked three wickets each while Duanne Olivier picked one in India's second innings.



South Africa in pursuit of 243 runs to win the test match, just wanted to stay controlled and strong in the middle. The time was never an issue as two days game was still to be played. The host's skipper Dean Elgar lead the batting attack despite taking many body blows. Elgar remained stuck at one side and scored unbeaten 96 runs while from the other end South Africa saw healthy contributions from each batter.



Aiden Markram scored 31, Keegan Peterson scored 28, Rassie van der Dussen played a good knock of 40 runs while Temba Bavuma remained unbeaten at 23.



South Africa won the match by 7 wickets and levelled the series. The decider will be played at Newlands, Cape Town, starting January 11.



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South Africa defeat India in the 2nd Test in Johannesburg match by seven wickets

south-africa-defeat-india-in-the-2nd-test-in-johannesburg-match-by-seven-wickets

The Board of Control for Cricket in India finally announced the contract list for the next season.

Full list of players added and terminated from BCCI's central contract list

full-list-of-players-added-and-terminated-from-bcci-s-central-contract-list-

Struggling KKR (3 wins in 7 matches) face table-toppers GT (5 wins in 7 matches) at Eden Gardens. KKR's batting has been inconsistent, with Rahane, de Kock and others failing to chase even modest totals, while their bowlers have performed well. GT, led by in-form Shubman Gill, have been dominant with strong contributions from Buttler, Sudarshan and their bowling attack. The Eden Gardens pitch, initially a point of controversy, is now more spin-friendly but should still allow competitive scores around 180-190. GT have won 2 of their 4 past meetings against KKR.

KKR vs GT IPL 2025: Will the Eden Gardens pitch support the batters or bowlers? Check the pitch report here

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Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, who were terminated last year, are back on the list following impressive performances. 

BCCI releases annual contract list for 2025 season, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan return

bcci-releases-annual-contract-list-for-2025-season-shreyas-iyer-ishan-kishan-return-

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has reportedly asked the BCCI to ban commentators Simon Doull and Harsha Bhogle from Eden Gardens after they criticized the pitch curator for not favoring KKR. The CAB defended the curator, stating he followed rules against franchise interference. As a result, Doull and Bhogle will miss KKR’s next match, with the BCCI’s decision pending. Eden Gardens is still set to host the IPL 2025 final.

Harsha Bhogle & Simon Doull banned by CAB from commentating at the Eden Gardens, Controversy in IPL

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GT vs KKR Match Prediction: The Gujarat Titans will be heading to the city of joy as Shubman Gill leads them to his first home in the IPL, the den of the Knight Riders. 

south africa vs india 2nd test