Jansen Shines Against India as South Africa Eye Series Sweep

India vs South Africa 2nd Test: Jansen Shines Against India as South Africa Eye Series Sweep

South Africa is on top of the Guwahati Test after putting up 489 in the first innings. Senuran Muthusamy scored a magnificent hundred, while Marco Jansen scored 93. The Indian team is in trouble after a batting collapse and trails by another 288 on Day 3.

Marco Jansen almost guaranteed South Africa a rare Test series win in India by bowling the hosts out for just 201 runs, giving his team a huge first-innings lead of 288 with more than two days left. India collapsed from 95 for 1 to 122 for 7, losing all hope of fighting back after South Africa had already posted 489 in their first innings to build on their 1-0 lead.

In the morning, spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj got some help from the pitch as the ball turned and bounced unexpectedly. But once the early moisture dried up, batting became easier. Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav showed this by batting together for nearly 35 overs without much trouble.

Jansen, however, changed the game with his aggressive short-pitched bowling. He claimed his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests, added to his earlier 93 runs with the bat, and even took a brilliant catch to dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal, India’s only half-centurion of the series. His six wickets included four dismissals with bouncers, something never seen before in India since ball-by-ball records began.

Before Jansen’s spell, India’s young batting line-up looked nervous. With little experience at No. 3 and No. 4, they struggled under pressure. KL Rahul was beaten by a clever slower ball from Maharaj, while Harmer removed Jaiswal with a delivery that stopped on him. Jansen then dived forward at the backward point to take a stunning catch. Soon after, B Sai Sudharsan fell to a short ball from Harmer, caught at midwicket.

From there, Jansen took over. He dismissed Dhruv Jurel with a wide bouncer just before tea, then removed captain Rishabh Pant, who tried to attack but edged behind. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja were undone by brutal short balls, with sharp catches taken in the slips. Finally, Jansen ended the innings by bouncing out Jasprit Bumrah.

Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav tried to resist, with Washington nearly scoring a fifty and Kuldeep playing his longest Test innings. But Harmer eventually dismissed Washington with a fine offbreak, and Jansen finished the job with another nasty bouncer to Bumrah.

India’s bowlers had barely rested before being sent back onto the field. Bumrah created a chance in the first over, but it flew wide of the slips. By stumps, South Africa were already 314 runs ahead, just a couple of sessions away from sealing the series.

Day 2

Senuran Muthusamy scored his first Test hundred, and Marco Jansen made a career-best 93 to put South Africa in a strong position against India in the Guwahati Test. Their efforts helped South Africa reach 489 runs, a score no team has ever lost a Test in India after making. If that record holds, India could face their second home-series defeat in 12 months, after going 12 years without one.

At the start of day two, such a big total looked unlikely. South Africa were 247 for 6 overnight, and when Muthusamy and Kyle Verreynne began slowly, it seemed they might not even cross 400. But Jansen’s attacking knock changed everything. His 93 off 91 balls, including a record seven sixes against India in India, broke India’s hopes. Together, Jansen and Muthusamy added 97 runs in just 17.4 overs, the highest partnership of the series.

Before Jansen’s fireworks, Muthusamy and Verreynne had already frustrated India. The pitch, lively on day one, became flat as the moisture dried up. South Africa lost wickets only when they tried to score quickly. On day two, they slowed down, not just to save the game but to deny India batting while the pitch was still good. For nearly 40 overs in the morning, India couldn’t create any real chances. Even when Jadeja thought he had Muthusamy lbw, technology overturned the decision. Muthusamy looked solid, playing only 13 false shots in his long 205-ball stay.

By mid-afternoon, South Africa were 334 for 7, and India still had hopes of bowling them out under 400. But Jansen came in and immediately attacked. He smashed Jadeja for a no-look six, followed it with more boundaries, and took on Kuldeep Yadav with ease. Muthusamy also grew more aggressive, adding quick runs after reaching his fifty.

India tried short-pitched bowling, but it didn’t work. Bumrah and Siraj exchanged frustrated looks when catches fell short. Siraj eventually dismissed Muthusamy after tea, but Jansen kept going, pulling and hooking with confidence. Bumrah got Simon Harmer, but South Africa’s tail wagged as Jansen and Keshav Maharaj added 27 for the last wicket. Jansen batted like a proper batter, though he was upset to miss out on a hundred when he chopped on against Kuldeep.

Kuldeep finished with four wickets, while Jadeja, Bumrah, and Siraj took two each. Still, India had been forced to stay on the field for 150 overs, something that has happened only four times since 2016.

By the end of the day, India’s players looked tired and mentally drained. They had to survive a tricky half hour before stumps in fading light, but bad weather cut play short after just 4.1 overs. With limited overs possible at this venue, South Africa’s chances of holding their series lead look even stronger.