Ashwin OUT, Jadeja IN: India's Probable Playing 11 For IND vs SA 2nd Test

India playing 11 for IND-SA 2nd Test: Securing a win in IND vs SA 2nd Test at Cape Town will be crucial for Rohit Sharma-led team India to avoid the embarrassment of losing IND vs SA Test series.

Following a disappointing loss in the series opener by an innings and 32 runs at Centurion, the Indian men's cricket team would be eager to stage a comeback in the second and final Test against South Africa. The upcoming red-ball clash between the two teams is set to occur at Newlands in Cape Town on January 3.

Despite a lacklustre performance by the Indian batters in the series opener, it appears unlikely that India will make alterations to the batting lineup. While there is the option of Abhimanyu Easwaran, who replaced Ruturaj Gaikwad in the Test squad, it seems improbable that the former India A captain will be favoured over Yashasvi Jaiswal, despite Jaiswal's limited impact in the Centurion Test.

Despite the setback, there were pivotal moments for the Men in Blue. KL Rahul's century and Kohli's resilience in the second innings showcased promise, while Jasprit Bumrah shone as the standout bowler. Additionally, encouraging news has emerged from the Indian camp ahead of the final Test, with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja likely to recover in time after starting training with the team in Cape Town as per a PTI report.

Jadeja missed the series opener due to an upper back spasm on Day 1 but joined the warm-up sessions on Day 3 without any visible discomfort, reportedly taking multiple 30-40m strides.

Ravindra Jadeja could replace Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI since Ashwin had a modest performance, securing only one wicket and registering 8 and 0 runs in his batting outings. Jadeja's inclusion not only strengthens the batting order but also provides a reliable spinning option in overseas conditions.

Another potential change could see Prasidh Krishna making way for Mukesh Kumar. Krishna, who debuted in the Boxing Day Test, had a challenging outing, managing just one wicket for 93 runs in 20 overs at SuperSport Park. This performance drew criticism from several cricket experts despite Krishna's earlier promising five-wicket haul in the India A vs. South Africa A four-day match.

Despite Shardul Thakur's bowling struggles, his batting prowess is likely to secure his spot in the team. India face an uphill battle in South Africa. While the historic feat seems out of reach this time after the series opener loss, securing a win in the Cape Town Test will be crucial for India to avoid the embarrassment of losing the Test series in South Africa.

India’s likely playing XI for the 2nd Test against South Africa: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mukesh Kumar, and Mohammed Siraj.