On a balmy afternoon at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bat first against India in the second Test of the Freedom Trophy 2025-26 series, setting the stage for a crucial Day 1 clash on November 22. With India trailing 0-1 after a shocking 30-run defeat in the opener at Eden Gardens, stand-in skipper Rishabh Pant led a revamped side featuring Nitish Kumar Reddy in place of the injured Shubman Gill, while the Proteas rested Corbin Bosch to bolster their spin options. The historic match marked the debut Test at the Assam Cricket Association's home ground, where a batting-friendly pitch promised a high-scoring encounter under clear skies.

South Africa's innings began steadily, with openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton forging a 69-run stand before Kuldeep Yadav struck in the 28th over, trapping Rickelton lbw for 35 to break through. Markram fell shortly after lunch for 64, bowled by Jasprit Bumrah's searing yorker, but Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs steadied the ship with a gritty 50-run partnership. However, India's spinners clawed back control in the final session, as Kuldeep (3-62) returned to dismiss Stubbs for 32 and Wiaan Mulder for 13, leaving South Africa teetering at 201/5 after 67.2 overs when stumps were drawn early due to fading light.

The dismissal of Mulder, caught sweeping off Kuldeep's googly, ignited celebrations in the Indian camp, with Pant's aggressive captaincy evident in his rotation of bowlers on a turning track. Senuran Muthusamy (10*) and Tony de Zorzi (22*) guided the visitors to the close with an unbroken 24-run stand for the sixth wicket, but the momentum swung firmly towards India, who will resume with Mohammed Siraj (0-46) and Bumrah (1-38) fresh to exploit any early breakthroughs on Day 2.

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Trailing in the series, India will draw confidence from their bowling resurgence, particularly Kuldeep's wizardry that dismantled the middle order after a sluggish start. South Africa, aiming for their first Test series win in India since 1996, must regroup overnight, with Bavuma's pre-match vow to "play on the front foot" tested by the hosts' spin trap. As the series hangs in the balance, Pant's leadership in his first Test as captain could prove pivotal in levelling the contest before the tour shifts focus to white-ball formats.

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