India vs. South Africa, 2nd Test: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

India have a 1-0 series lead in their four-Test series against South Africa and, if the weather is to be believed, they might very well hang onto that lead.

Date: Saturday Nov. 14 - Wednesday Nov. 18

Start time: 9:30 am local time/ 4 a.m GMT

Venue: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Live stream and TV info: Star Sports (India and Bangladesh), SuperSport (South Africa), PTV Sports (Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates)

Weather: The weather forecast has changed quite a lot over the last few days, but it seems certain that there will be at least one rain interruption over the five days, according to AccuWeather.com. Both teams will be keeping a beady eye on the forecast. 

Overview

They say you shouldn’t trust a weatherman, but cricket depends on them. We can assume that there will be some sort of rain interruption at least once.

Teams can’t really do much about the weather other than slightly adapt their strategy. Overcast conditions mean South Africa’s seam bowlers are likely to get a little bit more out of the track, but playing the conditions rather than the man is what led to South Africa’s undoing in Mohali. They were so focused on the turning track that they had completely forgotten to batten down the hatches. Even if there is more assistance, they still have to box clever.

And South Africa will have the additional challenge of having to make do without Vernon Philander. The fast bowler injured himself during South Africa’s training session on Thursday and will take no further part in this series. Kyle Abbott has been flown in as cover and joined the team on Friday morning.

South Africa now have to decide how they want their bowling lineup to look. They opted for two spinners in the first Test, but Imran Tahir remained largely unconvincing. If JP Duminy is passed fit then there is no real need for two front-line spinners, especially if one is innocuous.

It might not be all that simple. Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were both nursing niggles and, at the time of writing, there was no word on whether they’re all fit and good to go. Kagiso Rabada, who made his debut in the previous Test, is the only fast bowler who has a completely clean bill of health.

There are many variables for South Africa to consider on top of the weather woes. India, meanwhile, have far less pressure on them. While their batsmen were disappointing in parts in the first Test, they have a lead, they have the home-ground advantage and a fully fit squad.

Key players

India

Murali Vijay offered stability in both of India’s innings in the first Test. If the ball is going to be doing a little bit more for South Africa’s quicks, they will need him to offer that same stability again and see out a new ball that will zip around.

South Africa

JP Duminy’s value was underscored in his absence in the first Test. Not only is he a very useful batsman, he also offers something with the ball. He was expected to be fit for the second Test and so much of South Africa’s strategy will depend on him being in the squad.

Squads

India: Ravindra Jadeja, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Amit Mishra, Ajinkya Rahane, Varun Aaron,Rohit Sharma, Stuart Binny, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin,Cheteshwar Pujara, Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha, Umesh Yadav

South Africa: Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Imran Tahir, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Jean-Paul Duminy, Temba Bavuma, Simon Harmer, Dane Piedt, Dane Vilas, Kyle Abbott, Stiaan van Zyl

All information obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.