South Africa have had an excellent away record in Test cricket over the last nine years, but they have never won an away series after being 1-0 down.

They have managed three series victories after falling behind at home: against West Indies in 2007-08; against India in 2006-07 and against New Zealand in 1994-95.

They have managed to draw a series on the road after being 1-0 down, which was in India in 1996-97.

With Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander out of the second Test due to injury, South Africa will have to adapt quickly if they want to get back into the series.

It was confirmed on Friday that Steyn had not recovered from a groin injury, picked up in the first Test. It is a double blow to a team who also lost Philander for the rest of the four-match series after the seamer injured ankle ligaments during a warm-up football match during training on Thursday.

Kyle Abbott arrived in India on Friday morning and it is hard not to see him be included in the XI since Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada are the only fit seamers in the squad. It remains highly unlikely that South Africa will go into the game with just those two, considering Morkel last played in the third ODI on 18 October and Rabada has only played one Test in his short career.

While it is not ideal to throw Abbott straight into the side considering he only arrived in India the day before the Test, the selectors may feel they do not have a choice.

Wet weather is predicted for the middle three days of the match with the first and last day forecast as dry.