Well, that was a long, tough day at the office for Team India. Day 2 of the second Test in Guwahati was completely dominated by South Africa's lower order, who piled on the runs to post a massive total of 489. From a news perspective, The day belonged to two players in particular: Senuran Muthusamy, who crafted his maiden Test century, and Marco Jansen, who played a blistering knock of 93. India's bowlers toiled hard, but the Proteas are firmly in the driver's seat.
Key Highlights
- ✓ South Africa posts a daunting first-innings total of 489 all out.
- ✓ Senuran Muthusamy scores a brilliant maiden Test hundred, finishing with 109.
- ✓ Marco Jansen provides fireworks, smashing 93 runs before being dismissed.
- ✓ Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers, taking four wickets for 115 runs.
- ✓ India finishes the day at 9/0, with play called off early due to bad light.
The Morning Grind: A Wicketless Session
The day began with South Africa at 248/6, and India would have been hoping for some quick, early wickets to wrap up the tail. But Muthusamy and Kyle Verreynne had other plans. They dug in, showing incredible patience and discipline, almost emulating Temba Bavuma's gritty style from the first Test. You could almost feel the frustration building for the Indian bowlers as the partnership grew.
They punished the loose deliveries but were otherwise content to just occupy the crease and wear down the attack. The session was a real grind, with maiden overs from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, but no real chances created. Muthusamy brought up a well-deserved half-century off 121 balls, and by the time the umpire called for Tea, South Africa had reached 316/6 without losing a single wicket in the session. It was a clear win for the visitors.
A Breakthrough and a Maiden Ton
After a frustrating morning, India finally got their breakthrough. It came from a bit of smart work behind the stumps. Ravindra Jadeja fired a quick, short ball wider of the crease, and Kyle Verreynne, who had played so patiently for his 45 off 122 balls, was drawn out. He missed the connection, and Rishabh Pant was lightning-quick to whip off the bails for a stumping. It was the first wicket of the day, but the celebration was short-lived.
The focus then shifted entirely to Senuran Muthusamy. He had been a rock, and as he neared his century, the tension grew. He moved to 99 with a single and then, facing Siraj, he tucked a delivery away for a couple of runs to bring up his maiden Test hundred. It was a fantastic moment for him, a century built on grit and determination, coming off 192 balls. South Africa had crossed the 400-run mark, and Muthusamy was the hero of the hour.
Jansen's Blistering Counter-Attack
Just when you thought the day would be about patient batting, in walked Marco Jansen and completely changed the tempo. He wasn't just there to support Muthusamy; he was there to dominate. He took the attack straight to the Indian bowlers, especially the spinners. There was a moment when Pant tried to get into his head with some chatter from behind the stumps, but Jansen's response was to step down the track and smash Kuldeep over long-on for a massive six.
He was simply clobbering the ball. Recent reports indicate that He even hit a "no-look six" off Jadeja that was just pure power. Jansen raced to his fifty in just 53 balls, an innings filled with powerful shots and aggressive intent. He hit four sixes in total and even broke his bat while smacking a boundary off Bumrah. His onslaught propelled South Africa's total from respectable to downright imposing, leaving the Indian fielders chasing leather all over the park. Another important factor is
Heartbreak and a Final Flourish
The post-lunch session finally brought some relief for India. Mohammed Siraj got the extensive wicket of the centurion, Muthusamy, who carved a short ball straight to Jaiswal at fine leg for a well-made 109. Soon after, Bumrah struck, cleaning up Simon Harmer with a short ball that rattled the off stump. It seemed like India might finally wrap things up.
But the drama wasn't over. Marco Jansen was still at the crease, and he was eyeing his own maiden Test century. It's important to highlight He moved into the 90s and looked set to get there. But then came the heartbreak. On 93, he tried to cut a ball from Kuldeep Yadav, only to chop it back onto his stumps. He was visibly livid with himself, missing the landmark by just seven runs. It was a disappointing end to a spectacular innings, and it also brought the South African innings to a close at a massive 489. From a news perspective, Kuldeep finished with a four-wicket haul, a reward for his persistence on a tough day for the bowlers.
India's Cautious Reply Before Stumps
With a mountain of a score to chase, Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul walked out to face a tricky little period before the close of play. Their approach was clear: survival. They were in no mood to take any risks against the new ball from Jansen and Wiaan Mulder. Jaiswal did get a boundary away, but for the most part, it was about seeing off the overs.
The umpires were keeping a close eye on the fading light, bringing out the lightmeter a couple of times. Eventually, with just one ball bowled in Jansen's fourth over, they decided the light was insufficient and called for an early stumps. India ended the day on 9/0, with both openers unbeaten. They survived, but an uphill battle awaits them on Day 3.
Conclusion
So, where does that leave us. Day 2 belonged entirely to South Africa. A notable point here is Powered by Senuran Muthusamy's gritty maiden hundred and Marco Jansen's explosive 93, they've put themselves in a commanding position with 489 runs on the board. This brings us to While Kuldeep Yadav toiled away for his four wickets, India has a massive task ahead of them. They'll need to bat long and bat well on Day 3 to even think about getting back into this game.
