GUWAHATI: India clawed their way back into contention on Day 1 of the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati, taking four wickets in the final session to level the contest by stumps.
Despite South Africa building two partnerships of over 80 runs on a slow-scoring day, India managed to keep them in check, ending the day with the visitors at 247/6.
Key breakthroughs came after lunch when Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs fell in quick succession, giving India the opening they needed. Earlier, the South African innings had stabilized following the loss of both openers around the first session break.
Jasprit Bumrah struck in the final over of the morning, while Kuldeep Yadav removed Aiden Markram immediately after the interval. Kuldeep and Ravindra Jadeja added two more wickets as India tightened their grip, and Mohammed Siraj struck late with the second new ball.
There was a new captain for India, but the toss luck remained unchanged as Rishabh Pant lost the toss, with Bavuma choosing to bat first. India made two changes, bringing back Nitish Kumar Reddy and B Sai Sudharsan to the XI. South Africa made one swap as well, replacing Corbin Bosch with spinner Senuran Muthusamy.
After failing to chase down 124 on a tricky Eden Gardens surface last week, India will be looking for a stronger showing with the bat. The team is without regular captain Shubman Gill, who suffered a neck injury during the Kolkata Test, resulting in Pant becoming India’s 38th Test captain in this format.
