Historic Test Match in Guwahati
On November 22, the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati will make history by hosting its inaugural Test match, featuring a clash between India and South Africa. The toss is set for 8:30 AM, with the match commencing at 9 AM after both teams perform their national anthems. As part of the pre-match festivities, the captains will sign portraits of the stadium, and a specially designed gold coin will be presented to them. The traditional bell will be rung by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia to signal the start of the game.
Special Events During the Match
During the interval, a book titled ‘Plucky 13’ by Sachin Bajaj, focusing on the Ranji Trophy, will be launched. Additionally, a brief ceremony will take place at lunch where ten kit bags will be distributed to junior cricketers. The event will be attended by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, along with BCCI President Mithun Manhas, Joint Secretary Prabhtej Bhatia, and IPL Governing Council member Mamon Mazumdar.
India’s Recent Performance
India enters this second Test following a narrow 30-run defeat in the first Test held in Kolkata. This match, which concluded in just three days at Eden Gardens, marked a significant low in red-ball cricket history in India, as it was the first time both teams were bowled out in all four innings without either side surpassing 200 runs. This occurrence had not happened in 66 years.
In the realm of Test cricket, there have only been 12 instances where neither team managed to score 200 runs in any innings while being bowled out. The standout performances from South African spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj, along with a resilient half-century from skipper Temba Bavuma, were pivotal in determining the match’s outcome.
India’s defeat at Eden Gardens also highlighted a statistical milestone, as the target of 124 became the second-lowest total that India has failed to chase in Test history, with the lowest being 120 against the West Indies in Bridgetown in 1997. This result also marked South Africa’s second-lowest successful defense in Test cricket, with their lowest being 117 against Australia in Sydney in 1994.
Leadership Change for the Second Test
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will captain India in the second Test against South Africa, starting Saturday. Regular captain Shubman Gill has been released from the squad to fully recover from a neck injury.
In the first Test at Kolkata, India struggled without Gill, who was unable to stabilize the innings, leading to a score of 93/9 while chasing 124 runs against South Africa. This marked India’s first loss at Eden Gardens in 13 years. Although Gill was hospitalized and later discharged, he traveled with the team to Guwahati but will not participate further in the series.
