India's Batting Woes Continue in Guwahati as They Struggle at 174-7 Against South Africa

Post by : Mara Rahim

Day three of the second Test saw India’s batting lineup in disarray against South Africa in Guwahati. By lunch, India was reeling at 174-7, needing to face a daunting 315-run deficit to avoid following on. A brief recovery came via a well-timed partnership between Washington Sundar (33) and Kuldeep Yadav (14), who contributed an unbroken 52 runs for the eighth wicket, but that still left them far from South Africa’s impressive first innings total of 489.

After a substantial loss in the initial Test match in Kolkata, India opted for a cautious start on a pitch that was deemed a “road” by Kuldeep Yadav for its lack of assistance to bowlers. The opening batsmen aimed to build a solid foundation, with KL Rahul (22) playing cautiously while Yashasvi Jaiswal (58) showcased a more aggressive style, effectively utilizing sweep shots to combat the spin.

The first significant breakthrough occurred when Keshav Maharaj caught Rahul at slip, capitalizing on extra bounce. Jaiswal soon brought some hope by scoring a fifty off Simon Harmer’s delivery but fell soon after. Misjudging the track, he offered a catch to Marco Jansen at backward point.

Harmer struck again, dismissing Sai Sudharsan who mistimed a pull shot, leading to a catch by Ryan Rickelton. Marco Jansen, South Africa’s pace spearhead (4-43), targeted the Indian middle order with short deliveries, eventually taking down Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Ravindra Jadeja, leaving the hosts in an alarming position at 122-7. Jurel was dismissed for a duck, while Reddy's dismissal was notable for Markram's spectacular one-handed catch.

Adapting to the slow Guwahati pitch proved challenging for the Indian top order. The surface did not aid bowlers; however, it required batsmen to exhibit patience and precise shot selection. The partnership between Sundar and Kuldeep offered some respite, yet the team's dire state was evident.

The South African bowling attack maintained its dominance, displaying a mix of swing, bounce, and accuracy. Jansen’s bouncers and Harmer’s spin kept the Indian batsmen under pressure, resulting in several mistakes. The tactic to disrupt India’s middle and lower order proved effective, keeping the hosts on the defensive through the morning session.

As the afternoon session looms, India is in dire need of a comeback to stave off a follow-on. They must focus on forming partnerships and countering the sharp attacks from South Africa. It’s imperative for Sundar and Kuldeep to play with caution to stabilize the innings and close the gap.

This test series is escalating into a challenging ordeal for India, who must bounce back from another batting failure against a formidable South African team intent on exploiting their lead. The upcoming afternoon session could be pivotal in determining India’s ability to prevent a follow-on for the second straight match.