Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar expects Team India to win in the second Test against South Africa. He said that the remaining Proteas batters are unlikely to set a challenging fourth-innings total for the visitors. However, India bundled out South Africa for a paltry 55 after Dean Elgar opted to bat first in Cape Town on Wednesday, January 3. However, Rohit Sharma and company were then bowled out for 153 before they reduced the hosts to 62/3 in their second innings, leaving the Proteas still trailing by 36 runs with seven wickets in hand.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Gavaskar said: “Three wickets have already fallen. India are still in the lead. So I don’t think this match can go out of India’s grasp. Yes, it might not be an innings victory. They (India) might have to bat a little but I don’t think South Africa have batters who can score 150-200 runs and trouble the Indian team a little.”

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However, Aiden Markram (36*) and David Bedingham (7*) are the unbeaten South African batters in the middle. They have wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne and all-rounder Marco Jansen to follow and then four specialist bowlers in Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi as well.

Meanwhile, Vernon Philander also opined on Dean Elgar’s decision to bat first and how he sees the game unfolding on Day 2. He said, “It’s always a tricky one. Dean Elgar based his decision merely on overhead conditions. I think it was blistering hot conditions this morning and often when the sun is out in Newlands, you want to bat. Of course, the surface has shown us otherwise.”

“For me personally, I feel South Africa get 80 to 100 runs ahead, they are still not out of the game. I don’t think this wicket is going to get easier. I think it’s going to get quicker with the sun and, of course, with a couple of heavier rollers. It might just leave us with an interesting Day 2,” he concluded.