India Struggles at 102/4 in 2nd Test Against South Africa

GUWAHATI, India — India faced a challenging test on Monday as they reached 102 runs for 4 wickets at tea on Day 3 of the second Test against South Africa, trailing by 387 runs after the visitors posted a towering first-innings total of 489.

Stand-in captain Rishabh Pant was at the crease with 6 runs, while Ravindra Jadeja was yet to score after facing just three balls. Yashasvi Jaiswal had earlier contributed a solid 58 off 97 deliveries, showing promise against a formidable South African attack.

After beginning the day’s play at 9 without loss, India’s batting lineup crumbled under pressure, losing four wickets for just 93 runs. Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer were pivotal in dismantling the Indian batting order. Maharaj took the crucial wicket of KL Rahul for 22 runs, while Harmer bagged Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan, who scored 15 runs.

Despite a benign pitch that was initially conducive to batting, the South African bowlers found their rhythm. Jaiswal’s dismissal was significant, as he top-edged a slower delivery from Harmer, leading to a straightforward catch. After that, Dhruv Jurel fell for a duck to Marco Jansen, leaving India in a precarious situation.

India’s batting performance followed a lackluster outing in their last Test match at Eden Gardens, where they struggled against spin. The team will need significant improvements as they aim to level the two-match series, trailing 0-1 after losing the first Test.

“We need a strong partnership to get back into the game,” Pant mentioned after the tea break. The Indian side will have to work hard as they continue to battle against the Proteas, who are now firmly in control of the match.

The game continues to showcase strong performances from the South African bowlers, with Jansen and Maharaj proving particularly effective. With the middle order now at the crease, only time will tell if India can mount a suitable response to chase down the deficit.