Guwahati, November 25, 2025 - India faces an uphill battle to salvage the second Test against South Africa as Day 4 dawns with the visitors holding a commanding lead. South Africa ended Day 3 firmly in control, poised to secure the match and the series.
The day began with India resuming at 9/0, with hopes of a strong counterattack after South Africa's first innings total of 489. However, those hopes quickly dissolved as India suffered a dramatic batting collapse, being bowled out for just 201 in 83.5 overs. Only Yashasvi Jaiswal (58) and Washington Sundar (48) offered significant resistance.
Marco Jansen's fiery spell of 6 for 48 was instrumental in dismantling the Indian batting lineup. His performance puts him in a select group of left-arm fast bowlers to achieve a Test five-wicket haul in India. Simon Harmer also contributed with three wickets.
Despite securing a substantial 288-run lead, South Africa chose not to enforce the follow-on. Instead, they further consolidated their position by reaching 26/0 in their second innings before bad light brought an early halt to play. Ryan Rickelton (13) and Aiden Markram (12) safely navigated the few overs bowled.
The current situation sees South Africa leading by 314 runs. India now needs a miracle to defy the odds and stage a comeback. Former players have voiced their opinions, with Anil Kumble criticizing India's batting performance and Dale Steyn praising South Africa's dominance.
Kuldeep Yadav described the pitch at the ACA Stadium as a 'road', but the Indian batters struggled against the South African bowlers. The South African spinners extracted more turn and bounce compared to their Indian counterparts.
The day's play saw India losing six wickets for just 27 runs, a collapse that pushed them into an abyss. While Jaiswal and KL Rahul started positively, adding 65 runs, the South African bowlers soon took control.
Looking ahead to Day 4, India faces a monumental task. They need early wickets to restrict South Africa's lead and then produce a batting performance of immense character to chase down a daunting target. The pitch is good for batting, but the pressure of the situation and the quality of the South African attack will test India's resolve to the fullest.
