Guwahati: The scheduled arrival time was well past, but there was still no sign of the Indian team bus. “They will be timed in practice,” someone joked as anticipation around the practice nets grew. Will Shubman Gill come? Will he make one last attempt to be ready for the all-important second test? The questions persisted. Soon they were answered since Gill did not appear, drawing the curtains of the theater of speculation. “Gill tried his best to be fit, you have to give him that, but the injury was such that we couldn’t help him,” said stand-in captain Rishabh Pant, taking over as India’s 38th Test skipper. As Pant came to the ground for the press conference and perhaps to take one last look at the field, there was a noticeable change in India’s pre-match routine. Unlike other Tests, when only the reserves turn up on the eve of the match, three first-team batters – KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan – arrived on Friday along with a group of support staff led by Gautam Gambhir. Sai, who will bat at No. 3 or No. 6, went through his pre-match rituals, walking barefoot on the turf and practicing in the shadows at the crease, while openers Rahul and Jaiswal hit the nets. It was clear how desperate India, trailing 0-1 in the series, were to meet the morning challenge that South Africa will pose at the Assam Cricket Stadium in Barsapara. The pitch, according to captains Temba Bavuma and Rishabh Pant, will be a traditional subcontinent red ground surface where the ball is expected to spin from day three, and batters should find slightly easier conditions than at Eden Gardens. But with a start at 9 a.m., the leaders could take the lead earlier due to the greenish tint retained on the field. In such conditions, Rahul and Jaiswal must give India a good start. Coach Gambhir spent time with Jaiswal, urging him to play closer to the body and right under his nose. There will be some relief for the openers with the news that the South African pacer Kagiso Rabada was officially excluded from the test. Rabada did not train on Friday and Bavuma said there was a temptation to play Lungi Ngidi at this track, adding that he is “playing as well as ever”. It remains to be seen whether he will replace Corbin Bosch, who played a crucial hand with the bat lower down the order at Eden Gardens. Senuran Muthusamy, another left-arm spinner who could bat, played for a while in the adjacent field. With Keshav Maharaj playing an ordinary match in Kolkata, South Africa seem to be considering the Muthusamy option. For India, the pitch conditions and Gill’s absence could make it easier for Nitish Reddy to return to the XI. As a right-hander, he brings variety to a left-handed batting order, and his ability to change pace could work in India’s favor. This could lead to Axar Patel stepping down. Pant said the team had looked at all options and “the player who will play has been informed of the decision”.Light fading could be a factor: If the ground holds well, the possibility of a draw looms. By 3:45 p.m., the light is fading and the Indian bowlers may have to work very hard to take wickets quickly so that the lost time does not hurt them. A draw doesn’t help India, especially after everything that happened last week. The pressure is immense to level the series 1-1. With WTC points at stake and memories still fresh from last year’s 3-0 victory in New Zealand, another series defeat at home will be difficult to stomach. “At this high level, you have to handle pressure, especially when you are behind. But as a team, we don’t dwell too much on the result every time we play. It’s about keeping a clear mindset and giving 200 per cent,” Pant said. It remains to be seen whether this will be enough for India to achieve the victory they are aiming for in the first Test in Assam.
