Guwahati, India – South Africa have delivered another significant blow to India's vaunted home record, further solidifying their credentials in the World Test Championship (WTC) with a commanding performance in the second Test in Guwahati. After India's stunning loss in Kolkata, where they were defeated by 30 runs, the pressure was on the hosts to respond, but South Africa continued their strong performance.

Day 2 saw South Africa amass a formidable 489 in their first innings at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, putting India under immense pressure. In reply, India reached 9/0 at stumps, trailing by a massive 480 runs. The South African innings was defined by resilient lower-order batting, with Senuran Muthusamy crafting a masterful century (109) and Marco Jansen falling just short of his own with a powerful 93. Their contributions not only frustrated the Indian bowlers but also showcased the depth in the South African batting lineup.

Muthusamy, who previously played a match-winning innings against Pakistan, displayed remarkable grit and determination, while Jansen’s aggressive stroke play, including seven sixes, further demoralized the hosts. Jansen's seven sixes are the most by an overseas batter on Indian soil, surpassing Viv Richards and Matthew Hayden. The South African innings lasted over 151 overs, marking the first instance where all five of India's specialist bowlers had to bowl 25 or more overs.

India's struggles on spin-friendly tracks have been a growing concern, highlighted by a 0-3 series loss to New Zealand last year and the recent defeat in Kolkata. The loss in the first Test against South Africa marked India's fourth home defeat in their last six Tests. While India has a strong home record overall, with 16 wins in 25 Tests since 2020, the increasing number of three-day defeats points to a worrying trend.

The absence of Shubman Gill, who was hospitalised with a neck injury, further weakened India's batting lineup. In the first Test, India were chasing a modest target of 124 but were bundled out for just 93, handing South Africa their first Test win on Indian soil in 15 years.

The result in Kolkata has also impacted the WTC standings, with South Africa climbing to second position with a Points Percentage (PCT) of 66.67%, while India dropped to fourth with a PCT of 54.17%. Australia currently leads the table with a perfect record.

With South Africa in a dominant position in the ongoing Test in Guwahati, India faces an uphill battle to salvage the series and avoid further damage to their WTC campaign. The performance of the South African lower order in Guwahati has further underlined their status as a formidable team in the WTC.