India won the toss and decided to bat in the second cricket test against South Africa on Thursday, marking the visitors' ninth consecutive loss of the toss while touring Asia.
Virat Kohli became only the second captain to lead India in 50 tests after M.S. Dhoni, who captained India in 60 test matches.
India has a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after winning the first test in Visakhapatnam by 203 runs.
Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli attends a practice session ahead of the second test match between India and South Africa in Pune, India, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019. (AP PhotoRajanish Kakade)
India made one change, bringing in pace bowler Umesh Yadav in place of middle-order batsman Hanuma Vihari. Yadav last played a test at Perth in December 2018 during India's tour of Australia.
South Africa handed fast bowler Anrich Nortje his first test cap. Offspinner Dane Piedt, who had a poor outing in Visakhapatnam, was left out.
The pitch at MCA International Stadium was hard and bouncy with a tinge of green and expected to favor fast bowling over the first few days.
Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin attends a practice session ahead of the second test match between India and South Africa in Pune, India, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019. (AP PhotoRajanish Kakade)
Teams:
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami.
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (captain), Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Senuran Muthusamy, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje.
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