IND vs SA, 2nd Test: Poor temperament, shot selection put India in trouble despite Jaiswal’s 50, hosts four down (Day 3, Tea)

GUWAHATI: Poor shot selection and temperament spoiled the hard work of the opening pair of half-centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal and K L Rahul, as three quick wickets just minutes before tea put India in a spot of bother during the second Test against South Africa at Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Monday.

At the end of the session, India was 102/4, with skipper Rishabh Pant (6*) and Ravindra Jadeja (0*) unbeaten. They trail by 387 runs and risk being put to follow on. Despite a 65-run opening stand between Rahul and Jaiswal, India lost their way just minutes before lunch as Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel lost their wickets in a span of 20 balls.

India started the first session at 9/0, with Jaiswal (7*) and Rahul (2*) unbeaten. Rahul started off the day in a delightful manner with a classy cover drive against Marco Jansen through covers on the final ball of the opening over. In the ninth over, Jaiswal got a nasty blow on his glove by Jansen, but responded with a boundary over gully to end the over.

The power behind that one from JaisBall! #YashasviJaiswal goes down on one knee and smashes it flat for a maximum.
#INDvSA 2nd Test, Day 3 LIVE NOW https://t.co/Q2ZQvwvqsx pic.twitter.com/F12wAYLL0Q

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 24, 2025

Jaiswal continued to pick up speed, collecting two boundaries against Wiaan Mulder in the 12th over, before collecting a couple against spinner Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer. India brought up their 50-run mark in 18.1 overs.

The 21st over saw some more aggression as KL waltzed down the track for a boundary over deep mid-wicket and then a sweep for six by Jaiswal over deep square leg. Irrespective of a massive first innings deficit, India continued to play attacking cricket.

However, the 65-run stand came to an end with KL handing an easy catch to Aiden Markram at slips, giving Keshav his wicket for a 63-ball 22, with three fours. Sai Sudarshan was next up, who started off well with a couple of drives for four against spin, while Jaiswal ended his poor run against SA, reaching his first fifty against them in 85 balls, with six fours and a six.

Harmer continued to be a villain for Team India with a delivery that produced a great turn, getting the second wicket of Jaiswal for a 97-ball 58, with seven fours and a six. If Jansen could not get Jaiswal with his left arm pace, he took a fine low catch at short third man to give India a massive blow. India was down 95/2 in 32.2 overs.

Harmer produced another blow for the Indians as an attempt to pull the lead to Sudharsan, who was caught at mid-wicket by Ryan Rickelton for 15. India was 96/3 in 34.3 overs.

Skipper Rishabh Pant was next up on the crease, with just a few minutes to go for lunch. However, Pant displayed his trademark adventurous nature, dancing down the track and launching a six over Harmer’s head. India had 100 runs up in 34.5 overs.

India continued to commit batting harakiri, as Dhruv Jurel tried to take the aerial route on a short ball by Jansen, handing Maharaj an easy catch at mid-on. Jurel was gone for 0, and India was at 102/4 in 35.3 overs.

Earlier, on day two, India had ended at 9/0, after bundling out the Proteas for a massive 489 runs. The reigning World Test Champions started off the day two at 247/6, with Senuran Muthusamy (25*) and Kyle Verreynne (1*) unbeaten.

The duo frustrated India with their solid defence and temperament, putting up 88 runs for the seventh wicket before Verreynne was undone for a 122-ball 45, with seven fours.

Senuran (109 in 206 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes) registered his maiden Test century, and his 97-run stand with Marco Jansen (93 in 91 balls, with six fours and seven sixes) pushed the Proteas past the 400-run mark. SA was eventually wiped out for a massive 489, with Kuldeep Yadav (4/115) being the pick of the bowlers, with Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj managing two wickets each.

Earlier, Proteas won the toss and elected to bat first. Aiden Markram (38) and Ryan Rickelton (35) stitched an 82-run stand for the opening wicket. Bumrah and Kuldeep dismissed the openers, and SA was left at 82/2.

From there on, Tristan Stubbs (49 in 112 balls) and skipper Temba Bavuma (41 in 92 balls) got starts but couldn’t convert their scores. Kuldeep (3/72) and Siraj (1/73) picked up wickets to end the day one as South Africa finished at 247/6.

Brief Scores: India: 102/4 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 58, KL Rahul 22, Simon Harmer 2/39) vs SA: 489 (Senuran Muthusamy 109, Marco Jansen 93, Kuldeep Yadav 4/115). (ANI)