India rope in Gurkeerat for second Test against Proteas

The 25-year-old Mann had got an intimation about his selection in the Indian Test team for the second Test match against South Africa to be held in Bengaluru from November 14 and when the news was confirmed on Thursday by the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI), it was a moment of celebration for Mann’s family and Tinku.

India and South Africa have enjoyed an extended break between the first and second Tests of their four-match series, thanks to a three-day finish in the first Test in Mohali. “I want to win games, so I will do whatever it takes for us to win games”, de Villiers said.

“Though I am playing my 100th Test, I don’t feel any pressure, but I feel pressure because we are one down”.

Having lost the first Test in Mohali last week, South Africa are under pressure to square the Mahatma Gandhi-Nelson Mandela series, premier batsman AB de Villiers said yesterday. If I have to sledge, I’ll get involved like that.

As a result, I felt they ended with 30 or 40 runs too many, and we could have been chasing a score below 200, which would have been a lot more manageable. Representing my country is a great honour but the fact that it worked out for me to play in Bangalore is really special for me.

“I love coming here”.

Born and bred on pitches with the innate ability to milk the spinners, Pujara was at his classic best in the first Test that finished in under three days on a turf seldom known to have helped the tweakers in the past. He is very happy that he has got a chance to be in the Indian team against South Africa, a team which is at the top of world rankings. “If you look at the batting scorecard for both teams, no one scored a hundred. Both teams struggled against spin as you can read the scorecard and make out”, he concluded. “As long as we are focused on the things we want to do, it will allow us to succeed in this Test match”, he said.

De Villiers will have to replay a few of that batting as the Ravichandran Ashwin-led spin attack has started a charge on turning pitches in a desperate attempt to avenge the series losses in ODIs and T20s.

De Villiers and Amla have hit 44 Test centuries between them – more than what the entire young Indian team under Virat Kohli have managed in their short careers so far.

“That’s the caliber of a person we are talking about; that’s the cricketer we are talking about; that’s the loveable, marketable player we are talking about”. He slotted right in and played the next two Tests – which India won – while bowling tidily and producing one crucial counter-punching innings.

Asked about his uncanny ability to switch from one from of the game to another, de Villiers said he never found it tough. “I am expecting the boys to be very upbeat for this Test”, de Villiers pointed out. I believe it brings out the best in people if you’re accepting it. I like changing formats and the challenges it brings to your mental strength.

Kyle Abbott has been called up as Philander’s replacement for the remainder of the Test series against India.

Meanwhile, hosts India could give all-rounder Gurkeerat Singh Mann a Test debut after calling him up to the squad. And for formality’s sake, de Villiers reassured that it’s OK to prepare spin-friendly pitches to suit the Indian bowlers.