'Just Landed in Cape Town, Happy New Year': India Stars Arrive for 2nd Test vs South Africa

The Indian cricket team has arrived in Cape Town for their second and final Test of the South African tour. The tourists are aiming to salvage the two-Test affair with a win having being handed an innings defeat in the opening clash last week in Centurion.

The BCCI shared a short clip of the India stars’ arrival at the airport in Cape Town with pacer Mohammed Siraj sending his new year’s greetings.

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“Just landed in Cape Town. Wish you a very happy New Year. Enjoy 2024. See you on the 3rd (January),” Siraj said in the clip as the India players left the airport for the team hotel.

The second Test starts from January 3 with India hoping for a win to draw the series 1-1 before returning home.

India started their South Africa tour with the T20Is, a series that ended 1-1.

Captained by KL Rahul, India then won a three-match ODI series 2-1.

With a host of their first-choice returning to action for the first Test in Centurion, India suffered a big defeat at the hands of South Africa as the contest ended well inside three days.

Put in to bat first, India were bowled out for 245, a decent total possible largely due to KL Rahul’s terrific century. However, India bowlers produced a below par show with Dean Elgar scoring a magnificent 185 in South Africa’s 408-all out in response.

India fared poorly in their second dig and Virat Kohli was the only batter to record an innings of some significance (76) as they were skittled for 131 in 34.1 overs. The defeat thus extended India’s wait for a maiden Test series win on South African soil.

Following the defeat, India added Avesh Khan to their Test squad as a replacement for Mohammed Shami who was already ruled out of the entire series.