India’s hopes of saving the second Test in Guwahati took a major hit after South Africa tightened their grip on Day 4. Set a massive 549-run target, India slipped to 27 for 2 by stumps, losing both openers—KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal—before they could settle.
The Barsapara Stadium pitch continued its unpredictable behaviour. When India bowled earlier in the day, it offered little help and looked like a flat deck. But once the chase began, it suddenly gained life. Marco Jansen jolted India with a nasty bouncer that smashed into Jaiswal’s fingers before dismissing him soon after. Simon Harmer then breached KL Rahul’s defence with a sharp-turning delivery that exposed a wide gap between bat and pad.
With Yashasvi and Rahul gone, Sai Sudharsan and nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav were left to survive the remaining overs, but India still finished the day in deep trouble.
This collapse adds to a worrying pattern. After being outplayed in Kolkata and struggling again in the first innings in Guwahati, India’s batting continues to look short on self-belief—especially without skipper Shubman Gill. South Africa’s bowlers, meanwhile, have extracted far more from the surface. Jansen, the architect of India’s first-innings downfall with six wickets, struck again in the final session, while Harmer found immediate turn.
History also sits heavily against India. No team has chased more than 418 in Test cricket, and no side has ever chased 400-plus in Asia. India themselves have batted 95 overs in a fourth innings for a draw only once in the last 45 years.
Did South Africa Declare Too Late?
South Africa batted cautiously in their second innings and didn’t declare until the lead had stretched beyond 500. They eventually closed at 260 for 5. Tristan Stubbs, who moved toward a well-deserved hundred, fell for 94 just after tea, and captain Temba Bavuma signaled the declaration soon after.
Questions were raised about the timing, but the visitors appear confident of finishing the job. India haven’t touched 250 even once in this series. They were bundled out for 189 and 93 in the first Test, and even their 201 in Guwahati came with a string of soft dismissals. Pant and several others threw their wickets away despite favourable batting conditions on Day 1 and Day 2.
“It wasn’t about overs. It was about the time left. We had around forty minutes after lunch,” Stubbs said while speaking about the decision.
India’s fielding effort didn’t help either. Pant’s side looked flat and allowed South Africa to score freely, seemingly waiting for the declaration rather than applying pressure.
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