'South Africa will take a slim lead' - Aakash Chopra previews game for day two in Johannesburg

While the first Test between India and South Africa was completely dominated by the visitors, the second Test seems evenly poised at the end of day one. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

However, a sublime half-century by the stand-in captain KL Rahul, and a handy 46 by Ravichandran Ashwin saw the Asian side get to 202. The hosts were 35/1 at the end of the first day. While the game seems to be balanced at the moment, the cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra went on to make his predictions for the second day’s play.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, the former Indian cricketer felt that the Proteas would manage to get to a lead of 15-20 runs. He also predicted Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah to take the bulk of the wickets. While addressing Mohammed Siraj’s injury, he was hoping that it wasn’t serious.

Shami and Bumrah will together account for seven or more wickets today itself: Aakash Chopra

“I feel India will concede the lead. Runs are still left, you have scored 202, the opposing team have also lost one wicket for 35 runs, but I feel South Africa will take a slim lead, it could be 15-25 runs,” said Aakash Chopra.

“Shami and Bumrah will together account for seven or more wickets today itself. Shami has already taken one. Seven or more wickets of this innings can go in these bowlers’ names. Siraj is injured, I really hope he is not seriously injured, but he left the field limping a little and Shardul Thakur finished the over,” he added.

The 44-year-old also predicted that the Elgar-led side would get all out, and the match would move quickly. He went on to elaborate on the pitch conditions as well. Thus, he expected a lot of wickets to fall on the second day of the Johannesburg Test.

“My third prediction is that South Africa will be all out. The match will move fast because there is pace in this pitch. The scoring rate is not slow on a pitch that has pace, the match keeps moving forward, wickets keep falling and the runs are also scored. Something along those lines is what I am expecting,” he said.