'He is more suited to these conditions': India great tells Rohit & Dravid before IND vs SA 2nd Test

South Africa vs India in their second and final Test match at Newlands Cricket Ground is expected to be a hard and important encounter in the series. After South Africa beat India by an innings and 32 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series, India will try to tie the Test series. The competition, which is set for January 3–7, promises to feature top-notch cricket as both sides compete for victory. The combination of the demanding playing conditions and the scenic backdrop of Newlands Cricket Ground is sure to heighten the excitement for this much-anticipated game.

3 things you need to know 

• India lost the 1st test by an innings and 32 runs 
• India won the ODI series against SA with a 2-1 lead
• The T20I series between both teams ended in a draw

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Sanjay Manjrekar wants to see Mukesh Kumar in action in Cape Town 

Fast bowler Mukesh Kumar is expected to be included in India's playing XI for the second Test match between South Africa and India, which is set to begin on Wednesday, January 3 at Newlands in Cape Town, according to Sanjay Manjrekar. Manjrekar feels that Mukesh is better suited for the conditions in Cape Town than he is. Mukesh made his Test debut earlier this year against the West Indies at the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, where he took one wicket.

In addition, Manjrekar stated that he thought India should not field Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur in the same playing XI for the second Test. This tactical recommendation reflects the veteran's viewpoint on maximising the lineup for the forthcoming game against South Africa. According to ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar said: 

"From what we have seen in the first Test, I don't expect Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna to play together in the second Test. There will definitely be one change. If Ravindra Jadeja is fit, it will strengthen our batting. So, if Mukesh Kumar is bowling well in the nets, he could be brought in. He is more suited to these conditions," 

Sanjay Manjrekar shared his thoughts, predicting that despite a poor showing in the first Test, skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid will stick by Yashasvi Jaiswal. The young player, who suffered a setback in the first game, is anticipated to continue to receive support from the team's leadership. Manjrekar expressed optimism for a better surface in Cape Town, implying a desire for better conditions that may aid the Indian squad in the second Test of the series against South Africa. He added: 

"Since it is a two-match series, you are sometimes forced to make some changes. However, I don't think India will make any major changes to their batting lineup. Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid would have seen how Yashasvi Jaiswal played in the first innings, and they would continue to back him.

“You cannot change things with the selection when it comes to batting. All you can do is hope that the pitch is a bit easier to bat on,"

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India vs South Africa 2nd Test: The Squad

India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Mohd Shami, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne