Team India suffered a major setback in the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati after a dramatic batting collapse left them trailing massively in the match. Responding to South Africa’s imposing first-innings total of 489, India were bundled out for 201, slipping from a strong position to a crisis that shocked fans and experts alike.
India had started confidently with a solid 95/1, but the momentum evaporated quickly. In just over a session, India slumped to 122/7, losing six wickets for only 27 runs. The collapse exposed severe flaws in the middle order, with key batters falling to soft dismissals and poor shot selection under pressure.
The architect of India’s downfall was South African pacer Marco Jansen, who produced a sensational spell, finishing with 6 for 48. His sharp short-pitched deliveries and disciplined lengths left Indian batters unsettled throughout the innings. The spin pair of Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj also applied pressure with timely breakthroughs, further tightening South Africa’s grip on the match.
India found brief resistance through Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav, who stitched a gritty 72-run partnership. Sundar’s 48 and Kuldeep’s defensive stand offered a temporary reprieve, but the effort was not enough to salvage the innings as the tail folded soon after.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri criticised the batting effort heavily, calling it “very ordinary” and pointing out that the pitch was not excessively difficult. Analysts echoed the sentiment, highlighting questionable shot choices from several senior players.
With a massive deficit and South Africa firmly in control, India faced the possibility of being asked to follow on at home for the first time in 15 years, underlining the scale of the collapse and the dominance of the visitors.
The Guwahati Test now stands as a crucial moment in India’s recent Test history, raising concerns about batting depth, temperament under pressure, and the readiness of the middle order ahead of a busy international season.
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