Historic Defeat for India in Guwahati
India suffered their most significant defeat in terms of runs on Wednesday, falling to South Africa by a massive 408 runs in the second Test match at Guwahati. This crushing loss handed South Africa their first Test series victory on Indian soil in 25 years, marking a historic moment for the visiting team.
Series Implications and Team Performance
The result represents India's second home whitewash within just 13 months, dealing a severe blow to their prospects of reaching the World Test Championship final. India resumed Day 5 at 27 for 2, with Kuldeep Yadav and Sai Sudharsan at the crease, facing the impossible task of chasing down 522 more runs for victory.
Sai Sudharsan's innings of 14 runs from 139 deliveries became the second-slowest Test innings by any Indian batter who faced 100 or more balls. Only Yashpal Sharma's 13 off 157 balls against Australia in 1981 was slower. Sudharsan managed just one boundary throughout his fourth innings effort, finishing with a strike rate of 10.07.
Match Conclusion and Series Outcome
Senuran Muthusamy eventually dismissed Sudharsan during the second session of the final day. The bowler delivered full outside off, the ball went straight, Sudharsan edged it, and Aiden Markram completed his eighth catch of the match at first slip.
India never positioned themselves to realistically chase the daunting target of 549 runs. The team showed little resistance on a Day 5 pitch where the ball both bounced and turned sharply. Marco Jansen completed the victory for South Africa with a spectacular one-handed catch that ended India's innings at 140 runs in 63.5 overs, sealing the series for Temba Bavuma's Proteas.
Sudharsan, who didn't play the first Test in Kolkata, scored 29 runs across both innings of the second Test at an average of 14.50 and a strike rate of 16.20. The comprehensive defeat highlights significant concerns for the Indian team as they prepare for future challenges in the World Test Championship cycle.
