Ind vs SA 2nd Test: South Africa Takes 314-Run Lead, India in Trouble
Rishabh Pant faces ultimate test as South Africa eyes historic series sweep.
South Africa enters Day 4 of the second Test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati with an unassailable 314-run lead, having dismissed India for a paltry 201 in their first innings after posting 489 themselves. The Proteas, opting not to enforce the follow-on, added a cautious 26 without loss in eight overs before stumps on Day 3, leaving stand-in captain Rishabh Pant to summon a near-impossible fightback on a pitch showing early signs of wear.
Marco Jansen's career-best 6 for 68 tore through India's batting lineup on Sunday, his barrage of short-pitched deliveries yielding five of those wickets in a post-tea collapse that saw the hosts slump from 95 for 1 to all out for 201. Yashasvi Jaiswal's patient 58 provided fleeting resistance, but the middle order crumbled against the extra bounce, with Dhruv Jurel's rash dismissal encapsulating a day of mounting frustrations for the young Indian squad.
At the close of play, openers Ryan Rickelton (13 off 25) and Aiden Markram (12 off 23) saw off India's spin probe from Ravindra Jadeja (0 for 2) and Kuldeep Yadav (0 for 2), their steady accumulation under fading light frustrating the hosts' attempts to claw back momentum. South Africa's lower-order resilience, highlighted by Senuran Muthusamy's maiden Test century, had already forced India's bowlers to labor through 151.1 overs, sapping energy ahead of this critical phase.
Also Read: Marco Jansen’s 6-Wicket Haul Hands South Africa 314-Run Lead Over India
Pant now grapples with his most daunting leadership challenge, needing early breakthroughs to cap South Africa's second innings below 150 and craft a viable fourth-innings chase exceeding 400—a feat that demands flawless execution on a surface offering variable turn and grip. Jasprit Bumrah's probing spells offer hope, but the pacers' fatigue from extended fielding stints under humid conditions looms large, while spinners must exploit any cracks without leaking runs.
With victory here handing South Africa their first Test series triumph on Indian soil since 2010, Pant's tactical nous—aggressive fields, rotation of seamers, and bold declarations if opportunities arise—will define the match's denouement. India, reeling from the first-Test drubbing in Kolkata, eyes at least a draw to salvage pride, but the Proteas' dominance signals a potential end to the hosts' 12-year unbeaten home series streak.
Also Read: Rishabh Pant’s Tactical Blunder Leaves India Struggling in Guwahati Test
