If you ever wanted to know what raw pressure sounds like in Test cricket, Day 2 of the second Test in Guwahati was a masterclass. The voice of India's stand-in skipper, Rishabh Pant, echoed across the Barsapara Stadium, and it wasn't one of calm encouragement. With Shubman Gill off the field due to injury, Pant was in charge, and the stump mics picked up every ounce of his growing frustration as South Africa took firm control of the match.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Stand-in captain Rishabh Pant expressed sharp frustration with his team on Day 2 in Guwahati.
- ✓ Pant was caught on the stump mic telling his team they've "made a joke out of Test cricket."
- ✓ India received two warnings for slow over-rates, prompting Pant's outburst at Kuldeep Yadav.
- ✓ South Africa dominated the session, reaching an imposing 428 for 7 by lunch.
- ✓ Senuran Muthusamy scored his maiden Test century (107), supported by Marco Jansen's quick 51.
‘Mazak Bana Rakha Hai’: Pant’s Fiery Stump-Mic Tirade
It all boiled over when the umpires, specifically Richard Kettleborough, issued a second warning to the Indian side for their slow over-rate. The team just wasn't getting through their overs quickly enough, and Pant had clearly had enough. His primary target seemed to be spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who was preparing to bowl. With some players jogging casually in the background, Pant’s patience finally snapped.
The stump mic caught him loud and clear. "Yaar 30 seconds ka timer hai," he barked. "Ghar pe khel rahe ho kya? Ek ball daal jaldi." For anyone who doesn't speak Hindi, that's a sharp, "Dude, there's a 30-second timer. Are you playing at home? Bowl the ball quickly." He wasn't done there. He directly addressed Kuldeep about the repeated warnings, saying, "Yaar Kuldeep, dono baar warning le li" (Kuldeep, we've already taken two warnings).
The frustration was palpable, a clear sign of a captain feeling the game slip away. He felt his team's lack of urgency was unacceptable at this level, and his most scathing comment perfectly captured his mood. It was a moment that quickly became the talking point of the day.
Throughout the session, Pant was constantly trying to inject some energy and discipline into his side. He reminded them of the hard work they'd put in the previous day, pleading, "Bhai kal poori din mehnat kari hai yaar. Chhodenge nahi. Kaam karte raho." (We worked hard all day yesterday. We can’t let it slip now. Keep at it.) He even took control of the field placements himself, telling his bowler, "Field mere ko karne de. Tu tappe se daalne ko dekh." (Let me set the field. You just focus on bowling quickly.)
The Pressure Cooker: Why Pant Lost His Cool
So, why was Pant so on edge? It wasn't just about a few players moving slowly. This all ties back to a recent rule change by the International Cricket Council (ICC). In 2025, the ICC introduced a mandatory "stop clock" for Test matches to combat painstakingly slow over-rates, a rule already in place for ODIs and T20Is since June 2024.
Here's how it works: the fielding side has exactly one minute, or 60 seconds, from the end of the previous over to be ready to bowl the first ball of the next one. The umpire gives the team two official warnings if they fail to meet this deadline. But on the third offense, things get serious—the batting team is awarded five penalty runs. For a team already struggling to take wickets, gifting the opposition free runs is the last thing you want to do.
India was already on its first warning from Day 1. When umpire Kettleborough signaled the second warning during the 88th over, Pant knew they were just one mistake away from a penalty. This added a layer of administrative pressure on top of the immense on-field pressure being applied by the South African batsmen. Every delay, every casual stroll, was pushing them closer to that costly third strike.
South Africa Turns Up the Heat
While India was battling the clock, South Africa was busy battling—and beating—the bowlers. The frustration wasn't just about over-rates; it was about a complete lack of breakthroughs. The morning session was a grueling one for the home side. The partnership between Senuran Muthusamy and Kyle Verreynne was particularly frustrating, as they put on a solid 88-run stand for the seventh wicket.
Verreynne played a stodgy innings, making a patient 45 off 122 balls before he was finally stumped off Ravindra Jadeja. But his departure brought no relief. In fact, things got worse for India. Marco Jansen came to the crease and played with blistering intent, smashing the ball around the park. He and Muthusamy stitched together an unbeaten 94-run stand for the eighth wicket in just over 16 overs.
Jansen raced to 51 off just 57 deliveries, belting four sixes off the Indian spinners. At the other end, Muthusamy was the anchor, showing incredible patience to bring up his maiden Test hundred. By the time the lunch break arrived, South Africa had amassed a massive first-innings score of 428 for 7. Muthusamy was unbeaten on a fantastic 107 from 203 balls. Apart from a tireless Jasprit Bumrah, none of the Indian bowlers seemed to pose a real threat, and the path to a comeback was looking narrower by the minute.
Conclusion
In the end, Rishabh Pant's on-field outburst was more than just a captain losing his temper. It was the sound of a team under siege—from the relentless South African batsmen, from the ticking stop-clock, and from their own inability to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Day 2 in Guwahati belonged to South Africa, and Pant's fiery words on the stump mic served as a raw, unfiltered commentary on a morning where everything went wrong for the hosts.
