Ahead of the second Test match against South Africa, Team India`s Rishabh Pant, who will be leading the side in the absence of Shubman Gill, expressed his views on the venue.
Gill will miss out on the all-important clash against the Proteas as he has still not recovered from the injury. In the series opening match, the right-hander was seen experiencing discomfort in his neck, which forced him to walk off the ground mid-match.
In his absence, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Pant will take over the leadership duties. Speaking about the venue, he said that the ground is very special to him as he made his ODI debut in Guwahati. The left-hander also added that it is going to be a special match for the whole of Guwahati.
The Assam Cricket Association Stadium has never hosted a Test match before, and ahead of he second clash of the contest, India`s stand-in captain said that the wicket is expected to favour batsmen.
“Firstly, I would say that this ground is very special to me. I have made my one-day debut at the venue. I`ll be leading the Test team for the first time at the venue. It will always be special to me. I feel it will be special for the entire Guwahati, because a Test match will be played here for the very first time,” said Pant.
“It is definitely a better wicket to bat on and it will eventually turn after a few days,” he added.
🗣️🗣️ 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙏𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙂𝙪𝙬𝙖𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙞#TeamIndia Captain Rishabh Pant on the atmosphere in Guwahati ahead of the city`s historic first Test 🙌#INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @RishabhPant17 pic.twitter.com/InLd8gsu3q
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 21, 2025
The second Test match between Team India and South Africa is scheduled to be played at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati from November 22.
On the other hand, South Africa will miss the services of their lead pacer, Kagiso Rabada, due to a rib bone stress injury that kept him out of the first Test in Kolkata, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.
This rehab programme means that Rabada, who has 585 international wickets for South Africa, will miss the white-ball leg of the series, starting with the first of three ODIs from November 30 onwards and will also feature five T20Is from December 9 onwards.
Currently, the Proteas are leading the series by 1-0 and will aim to script history by defeating the hosts on Indian soil. Rishabh Pant-led Team India will play for pride and will look to avoid the whitewash against South Africa.
(With ANI Inputs)
