South Africa's Marco Jansen delivered a career-defining performance with a six-wicket haul, dismantling India's batting lineup for just 201 in their first innings on Day 3 of the second Test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, handing the Proteas a commanding 288-run lead after their own 489 in the first dig. The 24-year-old left-armer, who also contributed a brisk 93 in South Africa's innings, exploited the pitch's subtle turn and bounce with a mix of seam movement and short-pitched aggression, finishing with figures of 6/48 from 22.5 overs. His victims included key middle-order anchors, triggering a collapse where India lost seven wickets for 79 runs after a promising start at 95/1, leaving captain Rishabh Pant's side on the brink of a series whitewash following their 30-run defeat in the rain-curtailed opener in Kolkata.

Yashasvi Jaiswal offered the lone substantial resistance, compiling a gritty 58 off 97 balls—his 13th Test fifty—with seven fours, anchoring the top order before edging Simon Harmer to slip just before lunch. Washington Sundar provided a rearguard 48 off 92 balls, forging a crucial 72-run eighth-wicket stand with Kuldeep Yadav (19 off 134 balls) to frustrate the visitors, but Jansen returned with the new ball to trap Sundar lbw and wrap up the innings by claiming the final two in quick succession. Harmer, the off-spinner, supported with 3/64, including the scalps of Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan (15), as the Guwahati surface—billed as a batting paradise—began to offer variable bounce under overcast skies, aiding the spinners' drift.

India's middle order imploded spectacularly, with KL Rahul (22 off 63), Dhruv Jurel (0), Pant (7 off 8), Ravindra Jadeja (6), and Nitish Kumar Reddy (10) all perishing cheaply in familiar fashion to the short ball and sharp spin. Pant's ill-judged charge down the track to Jansen resulted in an edge to Kyle Verreynne, squandering a DRS review in a "brain fade" moment that drew sharp criticism from legends Anil Kumble and Dale Steyn. Resuming at 9/0, the hosts reached 102/4 by tea but hemorrhaged three more in the middle session, slumping to 122/7, underscoring persistent vulnerabilities against quality overseas attacks on home soil.

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Opting against enforcing the follow-on despite the massive lead, South Africa batted eight overs in fading light, reaching 26/0 with openers Aiden Markram (12*) and Ryan Rickelton (13*) unbeaten, extending the overall advantage to 314 with two days remaining. Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav operated without immediate threat, but bad light ended proceedings early, leaving India facing a Herculean fourth-innings chase or a desperate bid for a draw. Temba Bavuma's tactical call to bat again signals confidence in pushing for a declaration tomorrow, potentially setting up a victory push on a wearing track where spin could dominate.

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