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With less than three months to go for the Menâ€s ICC T20 World Cup 2026, the ICC has finally announced the schedule for next yearâ€s premier menâ€s competition that will be played in India and Sri Lanka.

With that, the ICC also confirmed the date and venue for the marquee fixture of the tournament: India vs Pakistan. This clash will continue the trend of India vs Pakistan matches in each of the menâ€s ICC tournaments since 2013.

Following Indiaâ€s 10-wicket loss against Pakistan in Dubai in the 2021 T20 World Cup, India have beaten Pakistan in their last three clashes at ICC events—T20 World Cup 2022 and 2024, and World Cup 2023.

Further, in the Asia Cup 2025, which was hosted this year in September in the UAE, all three India and Pakistan encounters resulted in victories for India, including in a thrilling last-over final.

Hosts India will enter the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 as the defending champions, having triumphed over South Africa in the final in Barbados two years ago. From that team, though, three superstars have retired from T20Is: captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja.

Under new skipper Suryakumar Yadav, the Men In Blue have, so far, won all the T20I series since mid-2024.

When and where will the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 be played?

The menâ€s T20 World Cup 2026 will start on February 7, and the final is scheduled for March 8. The tournament will be hosted in India and Sri Lanka across eight grounds.

The cities that will host the T20 World Cup 2026 are Chennai, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Colombo (two grounds) and Kandy. Bengaluru will not host any games.

What is the format of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026?

The T20 World Cup 2026 follows the same format as that of the 2024 event. 20 teams are divided into four groups of five each. The top two teams will progress to the Super 8 round, where two groups will be formed of four teams each. The top two teams from each group of the Super 8 will advance to the semi-finals.

When and where is India vs Pakistan match in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026?

Colombo will host the India vs Pakistan group match in the T20 World Cup 2026 on February 15. This high-voltage Indo-Pak clash will take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Which teams are part of Indiaâ€s group in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026?

For the first group round of the T20 World Cup 2026, Team India is grouped along with Pakistan, USA, Namibia, and Netherlands.

What is Indiaâ€s schedule for T20 World Cup 2026?

India will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on February 7 against USA in Mumbai, which is also the opening day of the tournament, before meeting Namibia on February 12 in Delhi. Then, Suryakumar Yadavâ€s team will take on Pakistan in Colombo on February 15 and conclude their group stage on February 18 in Ahmedabad, where they will face Netherlands.

India schedule for T20 World Cup 2026: Date, venue of Indiaâ€s group matches

• February 7: India vs USA, Mumbai
• February 12: India vs Namibia, Delhi
• February 15: India vs Pakistan, Colombo
• February 18: India vs Netherlands, Ahmedabad

Further, according to ESPNcricinfo, if India qualify for the Super 8 stage, their three matches will be held in Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Kolkata.

If India reach the semi-final stage, they will play their semi-final in Mumbai. The second semi-final will be hosted in either Kolkata or Sri Lanka, depending on whether Pakistan and Sri Lanka qualify.

The final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be played in Ahmedabad, or in Colombo if Pakistan reach the final.

Next year, India will aim to become the first team to successfully defend their menâ€s T20 World Cup title; no menâ€s team has won back-to-back T20 World Cups.

Also, ICC Chairman Jay Shah announced former India captain Rohit Sharma as the brand ambassador of the T20 World Cup 2026.

Groups For T20 World Cup 2026:

• Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Netherlands, Namibia
• Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
• Group C: West Indies, England, Bangladesh, Italy, Nepal
• Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE

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South Africa are on the brink of a first Test series win in India for 25 years after reducing the hosts to 27-2 in pursuit of 549 on day four in Guwahati.

India, who were skittled for 201 in their first innings, must bat throughout the final day to avoid a second whitewash in three home Test series.

Prior to last October’s 3-0 defeat by New Zealand, they hadn’t lost a Test series on home soil for 12 years.

South Africa won the two-Test series opener in Kolkata by 30 runs.

Resuming on 26-0, South Africa wobbled to 77-3, losing three wickets for 18 runs in a 13-over spell, before Tristan Stubbs took charge.

Top-scoring with 94, he shared a century partnership with Tony de Zorzi and added a further 82 alongside Wiaan Mulder to power South Africa’s overnight lead of 314 to beyond 500.

He missed out on a third Test century when he was bowled by a slower ball from spinner Ravindra Jadeja (4-62), prompting South Africa’s declaration.

In reply, India lost two wickets inside 10 overs, with Yashasvi Jaiswal caught behind off Marco Jansen and KL Rahul bowled by Simon Harmer.

Kuldeep Yadav, who faced 134 deliveries for his 19 in the first innings, was sent out as nightwatch and remained not out on four at stumps. Sai Sudharsan has six.

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NEW DELHI: Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicketkeeper-batter Shreevats Goswami has ignited a fresh debate around India’s leadership and direction in red-ball cricket, saying the team desperately misses the “energy and belief†that defined Virat Kohli’s era. His remarks came as India suffered yet another batting implosion against South Africa in the second Test in Guwahati.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In a strongly worded post on X, Goswami said Kohli’s retirement from Tests came too soon and the format “misses him†far more than ODIs.”Ideally Virat should have left playing ODIs & continued playing Test cricket until he had nothing to give. Test cricket misses him. Not just as a player but just the energy he brought, the love & passion playing for India where he made the team believe that they can win in any condition,” he wrote as India faltered once again at home.

‘I’m the happiest that way’: Washington Sundar reacts to his Team India role after Day 3 in Guwahati

His comments reflect the growing frustration around India’s red-ball slide. After a shocking series defeat to New Zealand last year, the Rishabh Pant-led side now faces the prospect of another home series loss — this time to South Africa, who haven’t won a Test series in India since 2000.On the field, towering left-arm quick Marco Jansen produced a devastating spell of 6/48 to bowl India out for 201, giving South Africa complete command. India, replying to 489, crumbled to 122/7 before Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav briefly resisted, but the damage had long been done.

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Do you think India’s Test team is missing Virat Kohli’s leadership?

With South Africa ending day three at 26/0 and extending their overall lead to 314, India are staring at a fifth home defeat in seven Tests — a stark contrast to the invincible aura once associated with Kohli’s reign.As Goswami’s post continues to gain traction, it echoes a sentiment that many fans and former players now share: India’s Test team looks adrift, and the void left by Kohli feels bigger than ever.

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The Indian Cricket Team is in deep-deep trouble after a tough day with the bat against the Proteas. The home side is on the verge of being whitewashed at home for the second time within 12 months.

Today was Day Three of the second and final India vs South Africa Test match. The game is being played at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, and saw the away team win the toss and decide to bat first on a pitch that was expected to deteriorate as the match went on.

Day One ended with several South African batters getting decent starts, but none of them made big runs. The day ended at 247/6. However, the pair of Kyle Verreynne and Senuran Muthusamy gave Indian bowlers a lot of trouble on day 2, forming an 88-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Then, the eighth wicket partnership was worth 87 runs. With the help of a speedy 93 off 91 by Marco Jansen and a splendid ton by Muthusamy, the defending World Test Champions ended their inning at a staggering score of 489. Day Two ended with India at 9/0.

India Vs South Africa: India In Trouble After A Tough Day 3 With The Bat

The start of Day Three saw the Indian opening duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul surviving and scoring runs. The Proteas spin unit of Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer gave some nice spin to the ball. Couple that with a lot of bounce, and the deck at Guwahati had become a batterâ€s nightmare.

Rahul would eventually fall to Maharaj, as the Indian Cricket Team lost their first wicket at 65. In the next few overs, Jaiswal would reach his half-century and would be dismissed soon after by Harmer, 95/2.

This was the start of a string of wickets that were to follow, as in his very next over, Harmer scalped Sai Sudharsan after setting a trap for the young batter. And then, before the end of the session, Dhruv Jurel would misjudge a bouncer by the tall Marco Jansen, send the ball straight up in the air, and get caught for a duck, 102/5.

The start of the second session of the day was disastrous for India as well, as wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant played a rash shot and was caught behind off Jansen after making just seven runs, 105/5.

Nitish Kumar Reddy was next, at the crease alongside Ravindra Jadeja. Reddy, despite making 10 off 18, never looked comfortable on the crease and was surprised by a quick Jansen bouner, getting caught in the slips. Jaddu would go next after just making six, becoming Marco Jansenâ€s fourth wicket of the day.

While Washington Sundar did mount some counterattack at this point, session two was won by the Proteas as well, taking three wickets and crippling the Indian middle-order.

Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav formed the best partnership for India in this inning, after the opening, making 62 runs together before Sundar got out after he scored 48 off 92. He was also Jansenâ€s fifth wicket. This was the bowling all-rounderâ€s first Test fifer against the Indian Cricket Team.

The tail wasnâ€t a lot of trouble for the South African Cricket Team. The next wicket to fall was Kuldeep Yadav, who had a fighting yet struggling inning, getting out for 19 off 134. Jasprit Bumrahâ€s wicket wrapped up the Indian innings at 201 runs. The hosts, after the first inning, trailed by 288 runs and were eligible for a follow-on.

However, seeing the deteriorating conditions of the pitch, South Africa instead chose to bat again and ended the day at 26/0, leading the match by 314 runs with two days remaining.

After a disappointing loss in the first India vs South Africa Test, the Rishabh Pant-led side is almost certainly out of contention to win this match, barring a miracle. The only result they can realistically go for is a draw. But that result too would mean that India would lose their second Test series at home within a span of 12 months, having been whitewashed by New Zealand last year.

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The Indian cricket team is one of the strongest home sides in the 21st century in Test cricket. Since January 2000, India have won 74 Tests and lost only 19.

Their win/loss ratio in the 21st century at home in Test cricket is 3.894, the second-best in the world, behind only Australiaâ€s 5.500. India were inarguably the toughest frontier to conquer for any visiting side, as Indiaâ€s spinners and crafty batsmen made their team almost invincible at home.

Over a period of around 12 years, India were nigh-unbeatable in home conditions, losing only 2 Test matches from 2012 to late 2024.

However, there have been a few teams that have managed to breach the Indian fortress. And not just in a standalone Test match but claimed a series victory, which have been few and far between.

How many Test series have India lost at home since 2000?

In the past 25 years, that is in the 21st century, India have lost only four home Test series out of 43 series.

List Of Test Series India Lost At Home Since 2000:

0-2 vs South Africa, 2000

The Indian team led by Sachin Tendulkar suffered a 0-2 thumping at the hands of Hansie Cronjeâ€s South Africa in 2000. The Proteas claimed a four-wicket victory in the first Test in Mumbai and won by an innings and 71 runs in the second Test in Bengaluru to take the two-Test series home.

Jacques Kallis was the Player of the Series for scoring 136 runs and taking five wickets.

1-2 vs Australia, 2004

Australia have managed only one Test series win in India since 2000, which came in 2004, when they took home the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by winning the four-Test series by a 2-1 scoreline.

Led by Adam Gilchrist, Australia beat India by 217 runs in Bengaluru, drew the Chennai Test, won by 342 runs in Nagpur, and lost at the Wankhede by only 13 runs.

Middle-order batsman Damien Martyn was named the Player of the Series for his contribution of 444 runs, the highest in the series.

1-2 vs England, 2012

The England team at the turn of the decade was among the best English Test sides ever. After winning the 2010/11 Ashes in Australia, England beat India by 1-2 in India in 2012. They have since failed to win more than one Test match in a series in India.

Alastair Cook led from the front with the bat, finishing the four-Test series with a Man of the Series-worthy 562 runs at an average of 80, while Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar combined to pick up 37 Indian wickets.

England lost the first Test of the series in Ahmedabad but bounced back stunningly to win by 10 and 7 wickets in Mumbai and Kolkata, respectively, before the fourth Test in Nagpur was drawn.

3-0 vs New Zealand, 2024

Indiaâ€s most shocking and unexpected home Test series defeat in the 21st century came when New Zealand not only won the series but also whitewashed India 3-0 in Indian conditions despite the presence of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Virat Kohli.

Really, barely anyone saw it coming.

New Zealandâ€s victory in the first Test in Bengaluru on a green pitch and under overcast conditions, where India were bowled out for 46 in their first innings after electing to bat first, could be put down to an incorrect reading of the conditions by Rohit and Dravid.

But in Pune and Mumbai, where New Zealand clinched victories by 113 runs and 25 runs, the visitors outbowled and outbatted the hosts to seal the series by a 3-0 scoreline, Indiaâ€s first whitewash at home since 2000. This series loss ended Indiaâ€s 12-year series-winning run at home. Will Young was the Player of the Series for his 244 runs.

It had a knock-on effect: Ashwin, Rohit, and Kohli lasted only one more Test series before retiring from the format.

(Stats updated till 20th November 2025.)

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The South African cricket team will play three ODIs in India as part of their 2025 India vs South Africa tour, which also includes two Tests and five T20Is. The series is part of Indiaâ€s 2025–26 home season, confirmed by the BCCI.

The first ODI is on November 30, 2025 in Ranchi at the JSCA International Stadium Complex. The match begins at 1:30 PM IST and 08:00 GMT.

The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur will host the second ODI on December 3, 2025, beginning at 1:30 PM IST and 8:00 GMT.

The third ODI will take place at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on December 6, 2025, beginning at 1:30 PM IST and 8:00 GMT.

India vs South Africa ODI Series: Full Indian squad analysis

India vs South Africa ODI Series kicks off on November 30, 2025. KL Rahul will captain the team while Shubman Gill recovers from a neck injury. After not playing since August 2024, Rishabh Pant is back in the ODI team as the second wicketkeeper.

Jasprit Bumrah has been rested following a heavy workload across Tests, the T20 Asia Cup, and the Australia ODIs. Shreyas Iyer is still recovering from a lacerated spleen, which opened a middle-order spot for Tilak Varma. Tilak recently played a one-day series against South Africa A in Rajkot.

Pant and Tilak are in conflict for the vacant middle-order slot alongside Virat Kohli, Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar are the all-rounders. Axar Patel did not find a place in the squad.

Yashasvi Jaiswal is expected to open with Rohit Sharma, while Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored 117, 68*, and 25 in the India A series win over South Africa A, is the reserve opener.

Mohammed Siraj has been rested to manage the workload. Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana are the main pace options. Dhruv Jurel is included as a backup middle-order batter.

Hardik Pandya continues rehab for a quadriceps injury at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and may feature in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy before decisions on his T20I return.

India vs South Africa ODI Series: Hits and Misses of the Indian squad

The announcement of Indiaâ€s ODI squad for the South Africa series has brought strong reactions, mainly because the new-look team features several surprising calls. Rahul will lead the side, supported by the senior presence of Rohit Sharma and Kohli.Â

One of the biggest talking points is India carrying three wicketkeepers while Sanju Samson remains out of the picture. During the Australia squad announcement earlier, Agarkar had explained that Samson missed out because “a top-order slot was not open,†but the absence of both Gill and Shreyas temporarily opened two positions. His last ODI appearance came two years ago, when he scored a century, after which Gautam Gambhir remarked that Samson “should be persisted with and get a long run.â€

Axar Patelâ€s omission is another major concern. He has been one of Indiaâ€s most valuable white-ball players alongside Hardik Pandya, contributing with match-saving innings and completing his full quota of overs in most conditions. In the recent Australia ODIs, he steadied the innings during collapses with scores of 31 and 44 and took a wicket in each match. A report suggested Axar was rested, but he has barely played during the ongoing season, featuring in only one of the four home Tests and not being part of the England tour.

Ravindra Jadejaâ€s return also complicates the situation. After he was left out of the Australia series, his inclusion here raises a larger question about the teamâ€s long-term plans. Both Jadeja and Axar played every game in Indiaâ€s T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy triumphs, yet only one seems to fit into the current ODI plans.

The absence of Mohammed Shami continues to surprise observers as well. Despite being one of the most accomplished ODI pacers and finishing the Champions Trophy as the joint second-highest wicket-taker, Shami has again been left out. Agarkar had earlier highlighted concerns about his workload and fitness, but Shami has played four of Bengalâ€s five Ranji Trophy matches this season, bowled long spells, and taken 20 wickets.

India vs South Africa Series: A Look at the Indian Squad

Indiaâ€s ODI squad: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (capt & wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel

FAQs

Q. When will the India vs South Africa ODI series be played?

A. The ODIs are on November 30 in Ranchi, December 3 in Raipur, and December 6 in Visakhapatnam. All matches start at 1:30 PM IST and 08:00 GMT.

Q. Who is leading India in the ODI series?

A. KL Rahul is the captain because Shubman Gill is recovering from a neck injury and Shreyas Iyer is still out with a spleen injury.

Q. What does the bowling attack look like?

A. Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana are the main pacers. Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy form the all-round options.

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On Sunday, 23 November, the Indian squad was announced, and KL Rahul was named as the stand-in captain for the ODI series against South Africa. Shubman Gill is injured, and Shreyas Iyer is still recovering, so Rahul will lead the side. He last captained India in the 2023 ODI series win against South Africa.

The announcement of Indiaâ€s ODI squad for the South Africa series immediately triggered a wave of online reactions across social platforms.

Saif Uddin reacted to the squad by saying, “ Dream squad for SA series! KL’s leadership, Kohli-Rohit’s experience, and young guns like Jaiswal – India’s ODI mix looks explosive. Youth meets wisdom! â€

The account Indian Sports Fans highlighted the major updates, saying, “Shubman Gill ruled out. Shreyas Iyer ruled out. KL Rahul as captain. Ruturaj & Jaiswal return. Tilak & Pant in the squad. Jadeja is back. No Sanju Samson. Bumrah & Siraj rested.â€

A humorous reaction came from cricket funny moments, which posted, “ODI series squad announce team India. No Bumrah No siraj No Shami Only believe harshit Ranaâ€

NewsFirst Prime summarized the announcement by stating, “India unveils strong 15-member squad for South Africa ODI series; KL Rahul named captain.â€

The squad includes Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul as captain and wicketkeeper, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and Dhruv Jurel.

India Squad for ODI vs SA: Axar Patel Left Out, Internet Reacts with Memes and Questions

Axar Patel has not been included in the India squad for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa. His omission surprised many fans, and it led to jokes, memes, and questions on social media. Fans asked why Axar was left out so soon after the Australia series. Some users said that the decision was shocking, while others used sarcasm to show their confusion.

One fan joked that Axar was dropped because he did not win the Test in Kolkata. Another comment said that with Jadeja and Axar, it always feels like “one ODI series for you, one for him.â€

One user wrote, “Axar Patel getting dropped from the ODI setup is so shocking.†A few also pointed out that media reports had listed Axar as a possible captain only a day earlier, but he was missing from the team the next day.

The reason for his omission is not confirmed, and it is unclear whether he has been rested or dropped. The ODI matches will be played on November 30 in Ranchi, December 3 in Raipur, and December 6 in Visakhapatnam.

When is the India vs South Africa ODI?

Indiaâ€s next ODI assignment against South Africa begins on November 30, 2025, when the first match takes place in Ranchi at the JSCA International Stadium Complex. The game starts at 1:30 PM IST.

The series then moves to Raipur on December 3, 2025, at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, again starting at 1:30 PM IST.

The final ODI will be played on December 6, 2025, in Visakhapatnam at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, with the same 1:30 PM IST start time.

FAQs

Q. Who is Indiaâ€s captain for the ODI series against South Africa?

A. KL Rahul is the stand-in captain because Shubman Gill is injured and Shreyas Iyer is still recovering.

Q. Are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli included in the Indian squad?

A. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are returning to play international cricket in India for the first time since February.

Q. Why did fans react humorously to the squad announcement?

A. Fans joked about the absence of big bowlers like Bumrah and Siraj, with one saying, “No Bumrah No Siraj Only Harshit Rana .â€

Q. When will the India vs South Africa ODIs be played?

A. The India vs South Africa matches are on November 30 in Ranchi, December 3 in Raipur, and December 6 in Visakhapatnam, all starting at 1:30 PM IST.

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Rishabh Pant (AP Photo/Anupam Nath) Rishabh Pant will lead India’s Test team in the second match against South Africa in Guwahati, following Shubman Gill’s unavailability. The team currently trails 0-1 in the series against Temba Bavuma’s side.Pant, who will make his Test captaincy debut at the same venue where he started his one-day career, addressed reporters during a pre-match press conference on Friday.Under head coach Gautam Gambhir’s leadership, India has consistently favoured selecting all-rounders over specialists across all formats. In the first Test match, the team included three spin-bowling all-rounders. “I feel it’s a balance sometimes for the team combination. You have to see if a specialised player is helping you more, or an all-rounder is giving you more stability in the team. So, it’s all about finding that team balance and the way you want to play cricket,” Pant added.Discussing his leadership approach, Pant emphasised his belief in allowing players to express themselves freely.”I want to be someone who gives that freedom, and I want people and players to learn around and make the right decision for the team eventually. That’s the real goal. And obviously, whatever knowledge I have, I’m going to help them on the field, regardless of anything,” he explained.The Guwahati stadium holds special significance for Pant, as it was the venue of his ODI debut for India. He shared his thoughts on the venue and compared the pitch conditions to Eden Gardens, where the previous match ended in three days.”Firstly, I would say that this ground is very special in my heart. I made my one-day debut here. I’m playing my first test captaincy match here. So, it will always be special for me. And I feel it’s special for the whole of Guwahati,” he continued.”Because it’s my first test match here. So, everyone has a special feeling about coming here. And regarding the pitch, I think this wicket will play better. Definitely, it’s a better wicket to bat on. Obviously, it will eventually turn after a few days. But it is going to be a good contest.”The stand-in Test captain indicated that the Guwahati pitch would offer better batting conditions compared to the previous venue, though he expects the surface to assist spin bowlers as the match progresses.

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After the uproar over Kolkata’s deteriorating pitch, batting coach Kotak expressed his shock regarding the extreme turn of the surface, noting that the team had envisioned a more standard track. He addressed Gambhir’s earlier comments, particularly the challenges posed by inconsistent bounce.

After Gambhir says Kolkata pitch was exactly what the team wanted, batting coach Kotak says they did not want so much turn from Eden track.

GUWAHATI: Itâ€s Guwahatiâ€s first encounter with Test cricket, and there was a sense of anticipation as the covers were slowly removed from the pitch on Thursday morning.

‘When you don’t play well, this is what happens’: Gautam Gambhir reacts to 1st Test defeat, points out what India lacked

You couldnâ€t help laughing when a colleague in the press box, in the mood to predict the climax of a Hitchcock thriller, blurted out: “It looks dry, no?†when merely a part of the popping crease was visible.But then, he canâ€t be blamed after all that has happened around the 22-yard strip over the last week. The blame game reached a different level at Eden Gardens as the pitch crumbled in two days, India lost, and finally, coach Gautam Gambhir took it upon himself, saying, “This was exactly the pitch we wanted.â€He shielded Eden curator Sujan Mukherjee, but CAB President and former India captain Sourav Ganguly made it clear that to turn their fortunes around, India needed to play on better tracks.It seemed Gangulyâ€s hard talk didnâ€t impress Team India. On Thursday, just ahead of the practice session, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak let it fly.“Of course, we want the pitch to turn, but not the way it did in Kolkata. From the second day itself, the top layer of the Eden wicket became too dry. And the layer underneath was very hard because there was a lot of rolling, which led to the variable bounce…Itâ€s not that anyone wanted it that way, not even the curator, but thatâ€s what happened, and Gambhir took the blame on himself. Now everyoneâ€s after him, and thatâ€s bad. Maybe some people individually have an agenda, good luck to them, but itâ€s not on,†Kotak said.But thatâ€s a game thatâ€s already lost, and thereâ€s no point pondering over it now. The attention has now shifted to the Barsapara track, which wore a greenish hue two days before the Test.But no oneâ€s ready to believe it will stay the same, come Saturday morning. While BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, who is also the ACA cricket supremo, feels it is up to the technical people to take a call on the matter, South African bowling coach Piet Botha is keeping his cards close to his chest.“I had a look at the pitch, and itâ€s still two days to go, so itâ€s difficult to predict if they can actually cut more grass before or not…That will obviously make a difference,†Botha said.Kotak, on the other hand, expects the pitch “to be better†than what it was in Kolkata.“It was surprising the way the soil was coming out at Eden on the second day. But this wicket probably will play better. At this stage, itâ€s difficult to predict the seam movement or how much live grass will be there. That we will know when the covers are finally drawn on Friday evening and how the weather stays,†Kotak said.If you followed the last IndiaAustralia series Down Under earlier this year, you might have got used to the curator talking to the media about the possible nature of the pitch with a day or two to go for the Test.But itâ€s a different story here altogether with BCCI curator Tapas Chatterjee almost ducking for cover when asked to elaborate on the nature of the pitch. “Please excuse me, thank you,†was all that you got.But then, thatâ€s par for the course. Whatâ€s Indian cricket without a sense of intrigue and secrecy—albeit occasionally forced—in every nook and cranny?

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India captain Shubman Gill, who has not trained since sustaining a neck spasm during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata, and will take a fitness test on Friday to determine his availability for the second match, has been advised by former cricketer Aakash Chopra to take a break.Gill has become a central figure in Indian cricket this year. He is the only frontline batter who plays all three formats and also leads the team in Tests and ODIs. He has been made vice-captain in T20Is, signalling a possible leadership role in the shortest format if he keeps his place in a competitive setup. He also captains Gujarat Titans in the IPL.

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak shares key update on Shubman Gill’s fitness ahead of second Test in Guwahati

Since February, Gill has played every major assignment — the IPL, a home ODI series, and the Asia Cup, which marked his return to T20Is after more than a year. No other India player has featured in all these tournaments.Aakash Chopra offered his view on Gillâ€s workload. “I asked Gautam Gambhir exactly that (about Gill’s workload management). His point was that if you need workload management, then skip the IPL,” Chopra said, as quoted by News18.“If you feel that leading an IPL team puts too much pressure, then donâ€t lead. While playing, (if) you are fit and not mentally fatigued… can turn up with 100 per cent intensity, play every single game you can – as a batter – I second the opinion that when you are going through a good form, you really want to maximise. You never know when the bad form (will hit you) or where the next run is going to come from. We have all gone through those feelings,” he added.Gill was appointed Test captain earlier this year and led India to a 2-2 draw in England, followed by a 2-0 win over the West Indies at home.He developed the neck spasm on Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa and has not returned to training.South Africa won the low-scoring match at Eden Gardens to continue their strong run after becoming World Test champions in June. The victory was their first Test win in India since the opening match of the 2010 series.

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