South Africa vs India: Test 2 of 2 match predictions and betting tips

South Africa won the First Test in impressive fashion, with excellent contributions from Dean Elgar with bat and Kagiso Rabada with ball, the highlights of their win. We’re at Cape Town for the Second Test as India look to fight back and level the Series in what could be a close contest and a fascinating match. Let’s talk you through all you need to know. 

Predictions for South Africa vs India 2nd Test match

It’s somewhat surprising that the odds are so tight when it comes to who might win this match after South Africa’s comprehensive win last week.  As is so often the case in Test match cricket, knowledge of home conditions made a huge difference over the course of the first match and there could be more of the same as we move to Cape Town. With that in mind, the smarter bet is to side with the hosts to make it 2-0, which would be an excellent result for the Proteas. 

⚡ Quick tips for South Africa vs India match

• David Bedingham to score a first innings 50 – ➡️ 3.5 odds at Rajabets ⬅️
• KL Rahul to be India 1st innings top batsman – ➡️ 6.4 at Cricbaba ⬅️
• Kagiso Rabada to be South Africa’s first innings top bowler – ➡️ 2.8 odds at 10CRIC ⬅️

📝 South Africa vs India betting tips 

So South Africa are the selection on the match-winner market. Not only were they the better side in the First Test but Newlands in Cape Town is a fortress for them. In the last 20 Tests they’ve played there, they lost just twice- against Australia in 2014 and England in 2020 – won 14 times and drew four, so they’ve certainly had some extremely positive results there over the years. India have it all to do and with this generally being a result wicket and with not much rain predicted, South Africa rate a good bet. But let’s look at some good bets from other markets. 

1.  David Bedingham to score a first innings at – 3.50 at Rajabets

Maybe it’s a little too early to be drawing too many conclusions about Bedingham given he only made his Test debut last week. But he really did look remarkably composed in scoring a fluent and convincing 56 in the only innings he batted in the First Test. There’s also an argument to say that India might be at their most threatening at the start of the innings so South Africa’s middle-order batsmen might find it a little easier than the openers this time round. Either way, the 3.5 that Bedingham makes it back-to-back fifties is too good to turn down. 

2. KL Rahul to be India 1st Innings Batsman at 6.4 at Cricbaba

Following the rationale that batting might be easier for middle-order batsmen when the ball gets a bit softer and doesn’t swing as much and it might be worth persisting with the man who did all he could do to win the game for India with the bat last week. KL Rahul’s first innings century was an absolute masterclass in terms of adapting to the bowlers and conditions on the day and his hundred was for many, the most impressive of his eight Test tonnes to date. Virat Kohli (odds of 3.95) will be for some the man to beat after playing a good knock of his own in getting to a fine 76 in the second innings but Rahul is a far bigger price, so that’s who we’re going with. 

3. Kagiso Rabada to be South Africa’s first innings top bowler at 2.8 with 10CRIC

Sometimes it’s tempting to look beyond the obvious in search of bigger odds. But when it comes to the South Africa first innings top bowler, it might well be worth sticking with the favourite, who is a very justified favourite. Kagiso Rabada took five wickets in the first innings at Centurion and two in the second innings to end up with seven in the match, the most by anyone alongside debutant Nandre Burger, who also took seven. For good measure, Rabada took four wickets in the first innings the last time he played here at Cape Town, also against India, a couple of years ago. So in excellent form and with a great record here, he looks a good option.  

South Africa vs India match details

Pitch condition for South Africa vs India match

Cape Town is generally a ground that produces results rather than draws. The proof is in the pudding: the last 13 matches here have produced 12 results and just the one draw when South Africa and England both scored 600-plus in the first innings to eliminate any chance of a result. But that was the exception and anything above 280 is generally seen as a good first innings score, while chasing anything above 250 in the fourth innings is always an uphill task with uneven bounce proving the downfall of many a batsman on days four and five. The team winning the toss will almost certainly be looking to bat first. 

South Africa Starting XI

Elgar, de Zorzi, Petersen, Hamza, Markram, Verreynne, Jansen, Maharaj, Burger, Rabada, Ngidi. 

India Starting XI

Sharma, Jaiswal, Gill, Kohli, Iyer, Rahul, Jadeja, Shakur, Siraj, Krishna, Bumrah. 

Previous matches between South Africa and India  

42 Test matches between these two have produced 15 wins for India, 18 for South Africa and 10 draws. Just looking at the 21 matches played in South Africa and it’s 13 wins for the hosts, four for India and seven draws. India have also now lost the last three Tests on South African soil after that defeat in Centurion last week. 

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