South Africa vs India – 2nd Test Betting Tips

South Africa will face India in the second Test of the three-match series, starting from Monday at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

The visitors are leading the series 1-0 after winning the opening fixture comprehensively by 113 runs.

After suffering a thumping defeat in the first Test, South Africa will come in the fixture relatively low on confidence.

The management will be extremely concerned about the overall performance of the players who looked jaded against the visitors despite playing in the home conditions.

To make things even worse, the Proteas record while playing at the Wanderers Stadium isn’t that great where they’ve suffered 13 defeats in 42 outings with 18 wins.

After producing a near-perfect performance in the first Test, India will enter the second fixture with high confidence and they are unlikely to make any significant changes in the playing XI.

Another confidence booster for the Men-in-Blue would be the fact that they’ve never lost a Test at the venue despite playing five times, winning twice.

 

South Africa Form and Team news:

The home team has already suffered a massive blow as veteran wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock — who was already going to miss the remaining two matches — has announced his retirement from Test cricket to give more time to his family.

Therefore, the home side are expected to make significant changes in the starting XI for the second Test.

In the batting department, the Proteas will be relying on the likes of captain Dean Elgar, top-order batter Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma to score the bulk of the runs and give the bowlers something to bowl with.

On the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of pacers Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Wiaan Mulder and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj to produce timely breakthroughs.

 

India Form and Team News:

The management will be hoping to see the players continue producing similar kind of performances and seal the series.

The only concern will be the form of captain Virat Kohli who has now gone two years without scoring a century in international cricket.

In the batting department, the visitors will be relying on the likes of in-form KL Rahul, Kohli, experienced duo of Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant to score the bulk of the runs and put the opposition under pressure.

On the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Shardul Thakur along with the veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to claim timely breakthroughs and dismantle the home team’s batting lineup.

Odds by Casumo

According to the Casumo sportsbook, India will be firm favorites to win this second game of the Test series to be played at The Wanderers in Johannesburg. For the second Test, India are placed at 1.96 odds, while South Africa at 4.20 odds.

Check out our Cricket Odds Here

 

Our Tipster’s Angle

Both teams will be coming in the fixture with contrasting feelings where the home team will be desperate for a turnaround whereas the visitors will be hoping to continue to good work.

On paper at least, despite playing in home conditions, South Africa look a weaker unit compared to India who are turning out to be the best Test team on the planet after winning in Australia and England recently.

Therefore, the prediction is for the Men-in-Blue to secure another win and seal the series.

Tip 1: Mohammad Shami’s excellent record at The Wanderers

Pacer Mohammad Shami was the star of the show with the bat and claimed eight wickets in the first Test played at SuperSport Park in Centurion. He will be looking to continue his good form with the ball in hand. In two Test played at Wanderers, Mohammad Shami has picked up 11 wickets at an average of 20.81 with one five-wicket haul to his name. Given his excellent numbers at the venue, expect pacer Mohammad Shami to take five wickets or more against South Africa at The [email protected]

Tip 2: Dean Elgar to carry batting hopes for South Africa

Newly-appointed captain Dean Elgar showed a lot of fight and determination in the second innings of the first Test played at Centurion. Left-hander notched up a half-century to see South Africa show some fight on the last day of the Test match. He will take heart from the fact that he has decent numbers in Test matches played at The Wanderers. In eight matches, Elgar has accumulated 523 runs at an average of 43.58 with one century and two half-centuries to his name. So we expect Captain Dean Elgar to score 40 runs or more against India in the second [email protected]

Conclusion

Expect India to beat South Africa and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

• Pacer Mohammad Shami to take five wickets or more against South Africa at The Wanderers- India @2.00
• Captain Dean Elgar to score 40 runs or more against India in the second Test- South Africa @2.50

 

Check out our Cricket Odds Here