South Africa's Resilience Shines as India Strikes Early in Second Test

On the opening day of the second Test in Guwahati, India struck early by dismissing both South African openers, yet the visitors showcased resilience. Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs formed a solid partnership, guiding South Africa to a competitive score of 156 for 2 at lunch. Jasprit Bumrah was the standout bowler for India, but the batting surface proved favorable for the Proteas. Read on to discover how the match unfolded and the key moments that defined the day.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 22, 2025, 14:30 IST

Guwahati Test: A Competitive Start

Guwahati: On the first day of the second Test, India managed to dismiss both South African openers within three deliveries around the morning break. However, the visitors showed determination on a more favorable batting surface, reaching 156 for 2 by lunchtime.

Aiden Markram (38) was the first to go, falling to Jasprit Bumrah's final delivery of the morning session. Shortly after the break, Kuldeep Yadav struck again, sending Ryan Rickleton back to the pavilion, which stirred some anxiety among the South African ranks.

Despite the early setbacks, captain Temba Bavuma (36 not out) remained calm, effectively defending against the Indian bowlers. This steadiness allowed Tristan Stubbs (32) to find his rhythm, as the pair built an unbroken partnership of 74 runs for the third wicket.

While the spinners found some turn, it was minimal, and Stubbs utilized his footwork to defend well. Once he gained confidence, he launched Kuldeep for a massive six over long-on and pulled Bumrah (1/17 in 12 overs) through mid-wicket.

Bumrah stood out as the most effective bowler during the initial two sessions, unlike the assistance he received from the underprepared pitch at Eden Gardens.

In the morning session, Bumrah's dismissal of Markram came at a crucial moment, as he bowled a challenging spell that kept both Markram and Rickleton on their toes. They managed to accumulate 82 runs for the opening partnership.

Markram had a close call early on when KL Rahul dropped a catch in the second slip while he was on six. Just when it appeared that the South African openers were settling in, Bumrah bowled a full delivery that Markram attempted to drive expansively, only to be bowled.

Towards the end of the first session, a few deliveries from Kuldeep and Washington Sundar showed some turn and bounce, but the batting surface made life easier for the openers.

Initially, there were no signs of uneven bounce, but Bumrah effectively exploited the lateral movement available. He consistently challenged the edges of both Rickleton and Markram's bats, while Siraj kept troubling the left-handed batsman with his angled deliveries.