After a high-voltage first Test in Visakhapatnam, India will take on South Africa in the second encounter in Pune. The match will be played on October 10 and is expected to be another great encounter. India won the first clash by 203 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. In the first Test, cricket fans were treated with some great contest between the bat and the ball. India eventually won the match but not before South Africa made a substantial fight back. The Proteas displayed great resilience against the number one Test side and took the match to Day 5. The first clash saw some rivalries between some batsmen and bowlers and we will be focusing on some more mini-battles which can be witnessed in the second Test.  India Vs South Africa, Cricket Score 2nd Test Match.

In the first Test, the batsmen broke several records and the bowlers left their marks too. The Visakhapatnam crowd witnessed four centuries and two five-wicket hauls in the match. So, it will be safe to say that the first encounter had all the elements of a great Test match. Playing in the IPL, many Proteas players like Faf du Plessis, Kagiso Rabada and Quinton de Kock have a fair amount of idea about the Pune wicket. So, the second Test could also witness a tight battle between the willow and the cherry. Focusing on the topic, let's look at some exciting-battles to look forward to in second India vs South Africa Test. India vs South Africa Dream11 Team Prediction: Tips to Pick Best Playing XI With All-Rounders, Batsmen, Bowlers & Wicket-Keepers for IND vs SA 2nd Test Match 2019.

Rohit Sharma vs Kagiso Rabada

After registering twin centuries in the first Test, Rohit will be poised to smash the Proteas bowlers in the second clash too. The right-handed batsman was phenomenal in his opening Test debut and scored runs with ease. However, the 32-year old cricketer will have to deliver consistently in order to seal the opening slot. In the second Test, Rohit will be challenged by South Africa's pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada, who is the second-ranked Test bowler and has dented many batting line-ups as well. Although the pacer faced a tough time in the first Test and could scalp only one wicket in the match. Anyway, Rabada will aim to make a strong comeback and dismiss the Indian opener as early as possible.

Ravichandran Ashwin vs Quinton de Kock

Coming to bat at number seven on Indian pitches against R Ashwin will certainly be a nightmare for many batsmen. However, South African wicket-keeper defied all the odds and scored an astonishing ton against the Indian bowling line-up. The southpaw eventually fell prey to Ashwin who claimed seven wickets in South Africa's first innings. So, De Kock will try to replicate his heroics in Pune. Ashwin, on the other hand, will like to exploit the old ball and claim the dasher's wicket as early as possible.

Ravindra Jadeja vs Dean Elgar

After a forgettable outing in the 2015 Tour of India, Elgar did his homework and scored a fantastic hundred in South Africa's first innings. The southpaw played most of the deliveries at its merit but seemed quite vulnerable against Ravindra Jadeja. The left-arm spinner, who scalped seven wickets in the match, got the better of Elgar in both the innings and the battle will resume in the second Test. The Pune-wicket has proved to be a rank-turner in the past. So, Jadeja will fancy his chance to dismissing the Proteas once again or maybe twice.

India lead the three-match series 1-0, which means the upcoming clash will be a do-or-die encounter for the visitors. India’s previous memories from Pune are not quite overwhelming as they lost to Australia in the first Test of 2017 series. However, India have been invincible at home since that game and the Proteas need to do something extraordinary in order to defeat Virat Kohli and Co in their own den.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 09, 2019 12:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).