India vs South Africa 2nd Test: Newlands Cape Town Pitch Report And Weather Forecast

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Team India will look to bounce back and level the series when they face South Africa in the second and final Test of the Freedom Series at the Newlands in Cape Town, starting on Wednesday (January 3).

Rohit Sharma-led India, who suffered a huge defeat in the series opener at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, will look to move up the standings in the World Test Championship when they face Dean Elgar's South Africa in a venue where they have never won before in six attempts.

India lost by an innings and 32 runs in the first Test in which KL Rahul scored a century for the visitors, while Elgar, who is on his swansong, scored an impressive 185 and Kagiso Rabada claimed seven wickets including a five-wicket haul in the first innings in Centurion.

Now, the action shifts to Newlands in Cape Town, where India and South Africa have met six times so far. In the six meetings, India has lost four and drawn twice against South Africa, who hold an overall 27-21 record at the venue with 11 matches ending in a draw.

It's a happy hunting ground for Rabada and Elgar, who will look to carry their form at the venue, where only Bumrah from the visiting Indian side has a decent record of 10 wickets in 2 Tests so far.

There was a delayed start to the first Test which saw the Protea quicks dominate, but the same may not be the case in terms of weather in Cape Town. Now, let's look at the Newlands Pitch Report and Cape Town Weather Forecast ahead of India vs South Africa 2nd Test:

Cape Town Weather Forecast for January 3 to 7

According to AccuWeather, it's expected to be partly sunny on the opening three days - from Wednesday (January 3) to Friday (January 5) of the Test match, but there is threat of rain on the fourth day (Saturday, January 6) followed by a cloudy fifth day (Sunday, January 7).

Weather Channel also predicts no chance of rain from January 3 to January 5, but On January 6, the forecast predicts 50 per cent chance of rain, and on January 7, the fifth day of the Test, there is only 17 percent chance of rain. So, weather may interrupt play if the match enters the fourth day.

Newlands Pitch Report

A typical bouncy wicket may be on offer with the quicks enjoying bowling on the pitch in Newlands. The home side prefers to bowl first at the venue, where they will look to use their pace bowling quartet to bundle up the opposition inside four sessions, and use the second and third days to pile runs to gain a good lead.

With overcast conditions forecast for the final two days, the quicks will once again have their tails up should the match cross the third day of the Test. The last time the two sides clashed at the venue in Test format, the match finished in the fourth day with India losing by 7 wickets.