South Africa Dominates Day 3 as India Faces Massive Deficit
The third day of the second Test match between India and South Africa at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati unfolded as a nightmare for the home team, with the visitors establishing an iron grip on the match and the series. What began as a day of cautious optimism for Indian fans quickly turned into a display of South African supremacy, leaving the hosts staring at a mammoth 314-run deficit and the prospect of a humbling series defeat at home.
Jansen's All-Round Masterclass Destroys Indian Batting
The day belonged unequivocally to Marco Jansen, who followed up his first-innings 93 with a devastating bowling performance that ripped through India's batting lineup. The tall left-arm fast bowler returned spectacular figures of 6 for 48 from 19.5 overs, showcasing remarkable skill and endurance on a pitch offering minimal assistance to bowlers.
Jansen's achievement placed him in elite company, making him only the third left-arm fast bowler after Zaheer Khan and Mitchell Johnson to claim a Test five-wicket haul in India. His relentless short-ball strategy combined with subtle variations in length proved particularly destructive, shattering India's middle order and reducing them to a precarious 122 for 7 at one stage.
Brief Indian Resistance Fades Against Relentless Attack
India's innings saw only two significant partnerships that provided temporary respite from the South African onslaught. Yashasvi Jaiswal played a composed innings of 58 runs, registering the first fifty by an Indian batsman in the series and offering hope of a substantial reply to South Africa's 489.
Later in the innings, Washington Sundar (48) and Kuldeep Yadav (19) staged a gritty fightback, adding 72 crucial runs across 208 deliveries in a display of technique and determination that had been conspicuously absent in the top order. Their partnership dragged India past the 200-run mark but ultimately proved insufficient to prevent a massive first-innings deficit of 288 runs.
The rest of India's batting lineup crumbled under pressure. KL Rahul fell for 22 after looking uncomfortable against spin, Sai Sudharsan threw away his start on 15, while Rishabh Pant managed just 7 before edging Jansen behind. Dhruv Jurel fell for a duck attempting an ill-advised pull shot, and Ravindra Jadeja departed for 6 as India's much-vaunted batting lineup failed to deliver when it mattered most.
South Africa Extends Lead as India's Hopes Dim
By stumps on day three, South Africa had further tightened their stranglehold on the match, reaching 26 without loss in their second innings. Openers Ryan Rickelton (13*) and Aiden Markram (12*) negotiated eight overs comfortably before bad light forced an early end to proceedings, underscoring the visitors' complete control of the contest.
The Proteas, who already lead the two-match series 1-0 after their victory in Kolkata, now stand on the cusp of a historic achievement. A series win in India would mark their first Test series triumph on Indian soil since 2000, breaking a 25-year drought and cementing their status as World Test Championship holders.
Experts Criticize India's Approach and Selection
The day's events drew strong reactions from cricket experts and former players. Legendary South African fast bowler Dale Steyn praised the visitors' dominance, noting that "It's rare to witness a visiting side dominate three days of cricket in India like this" and highlighting the flawless execution of South Africa's strategy.
Former India captain Anil Kumble was scathing in his assessment of India's batting performance, stating that the "application and patience required in Test cricket were missing" and criticizing the team's inability to weather difficult periods.
Ravi Shastri, former India head coach, questioned the team's selection decisions and batting order changes, particularly the demotion of Washington Sundar to number eight after he had batted at three in the previous Test. Shastri remarked that the team management would have "puzzled" questions to answer when reviewing the series.
Mountain to Climb for India on Day Four
As the match heads into the fourth day, India faces the daunting task of preventing what would be only their second home series defeat in two years. The Guwahati pitch, described by Kuldeep Yadav as a "road" after the second day's play, has shown no signs of deteriorating dramatically, suggesting that South Africa's batsmen will have favorable conditions to build an insurmountable lead.
With the Indian bowlers showing signs of fatigue – particularly Jasprit Bumrah, who has already bowled more than 30 overs in challenging conditions – and the South African batting lineup looking increasingly confident, the hosts require nothing short of a miraculous turnaround to salvage the match and share the series honors.
The final day promises high drama as India fights to avoid a historic home defeat while South Africa aims to complete a memorable series victory that would underscore their growing reputation as a formidable force in Test cricket.
