Guwahati, India – Day two of the second Test between India and South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati proved to be a stark reversal of fortunes, witnessing a determined South African lower-order dismantle India’s bowling attack and pile immense pressure on the hosts. What began with South Africa resuming on 247/6 transformed into a formidable 428/7 by Lunch, a remarkable testament to their resilience and, conversely, a scathing indictment of India’s struggles, particularly under the nascent captaincy of Rishabh Pant.

Muthusamy’s Maiden Masterclass and Jansen’s Blitz

The morning belonged unequivocally to South Africa’s Senuran Muthusamy and Marco Jansen. Muthusamy, an India-origin all-rounder from Tamil Nadu, authored a career-defining maiden Test century, scoring an unbeaten 107 runs off 203 balls. His innings, spanning over four hours and forty minutes, was a blend of composure and calculated aggression, frustrating the Indian bowlers who found little joy or assistance from the drying Guwahati pitch. Coming in at number seven, Muthusamy anchored the innings with unwavering focus, converting what could have been a middle-order collapse into a significant first-innings advantage for the Proteas.

Adding insult to India’s injury, Marco Jansen, batting at a late number nine, unleashed a breathtaking assault, smashing a 53-ball half-century (51* off 57 balls) adorned with three boundaries and four towering sixes. His whirlwind knock demonstrated exceptional power-hitting and an opportunistic mindset, capitalising on India’s flagging energy and increasingly defensive tactics. Together, Muthusamy and Jansen forged a partnership that not only extinguished any lingering Indian hopes of a quick wrap-up but also propelled South Africa’s total well past the 400-run mark, adding an incredible 181 runs for just one wicket across two sessions on Day 2.

The only breakthrough for India came late in the first session when Ravindra Jadeja managed to deceive wicket-keeper batter Kyle Verreynne with flight, leading to Rishabh Pant completing a stumping. Verreynne, who had played a supporting role, fell five runs short of his half-century at 45 runs, ending a crucial partnership with Muthusamy.

Rishabh Pant’s Captaincy Under the Scanner

While South Africa’s batters deserve immense credit, the narrative of Day 2 in Guwahati is also inextricably linked to the trials of Rishabh Pant’s captaincy. Leading India in a full Test match for the first time, Pant’s inexperience was visibly ‘exposed’ as India went wicketless for nearly four hours of play in the first session. The inability to break the South African partnerships led to increasing scrutiny from expert commentators.

Cricket great Dale Steyn openly questioned Pant’s approach, stating, ‘He (Pant) hasn’t gone for any Plan B or Plan C.’ Steyn even suggested bringing in Nitish Reddy, an all-rounder who had bowled only four overs on Day 1 and none on Day 2, as a potential disruptor. Dinesh Karthik echoed similar sentiments, urging India to ‘think creatively here, think differently if you’re India here.’ These observations underscore a perceived lack of tactical flexibility and decisive leadership from the young captain.

Pant’s field placements and bowling changes, which had already drawn criticism for being ‘defensive’ on Day 1, appeared even more out of depth as Muthusamy and Jansen continued to pile on runs. The frustration was palpable, with Pant reportedly ‘forced into a change’ after a barrage of sixes from Jansen against Kuldeep Yadav. His desperation for wickets was evident when he recalled Kuldeep Yadav into the attack despite the second new ball being relatively fresh, a move often indicative of a captain searching for answers.

India’s Bowling Lacks Penetration

Despite the presence of world-class bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, coupled with spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, India struggled to find rhythm and penetration. Bumrah, the world’s number one ranked Test bowler, started Day 2 with maidens but couldn’t create sustained pressure or breakthroughs. Siraj, too, toiled hard but found success elusive. Washington Sundar, another all-rounder, bowled 26 overs for no wicket and 58 runs, highlighting the lack of assistance for the spinners early on.

Kuldeep Yadav, who was ‘sensational’ on Day 1 with three crucial wickets, found it much harder to deceive the batters on Day 2. While the pitch looked ‘drier’ according to Shaun Pollock, making batting potentially easier as the day progressed, India’s bowlers failed to exploit the ‘some new ball movement’ that Pollock also suggested might be available. The best opportunities, like a thick outside edge from Muthusamy falling short of KL Rahul at second slip off Bumrah, remained just ‘chances’ rather than wickets.

Strategic Implications and the Road Ahead

South Africa’s monumental first-innings total, pushing past 428, has put them firmly in the driver’s seat. For India, the task is now twofold: first, to dismiss the remaining South African batters quickly and then, more dauntingly, to respond with a substantial total of their own. The pitch, described by Dale Steyn as one ‘where a winner will emerge on Day 4 or 5,’ suggests it’s not a dead track, but India’s batters will need to show immense application and skill.

The performance of the tail-enders, particularly Muthusamy and Jansen, has not only given South Africa a massive advantage but also created a psychological dent in the Indian camp. Rishabh Pant, as captain, faces the ultimate test of character. His decisions in the field, his ability to rally his troops, and eventually his performance with the bat will all be under intense scrutiny as India attempts to claw its way back into this crucial second Test.

With Day 2’s action resuming earlier than usual at 9:00 AM IST due to local weather considerations, India will hope the Lunch break provides a much-needed opportunity for Pant and his coaching staff (including Gautam Gambhir, as mentioned in the original report) to ‘re-think and re-energise’ before the next session. The Freedom Trophy series is on the line, and India must find answers quickly.

---

Disclaimer: Cricket Mantra aggregates breaking cricket news from multiple reputable sources, enriching them with in-depth analysis and expert commentary to provide comprehensive coverage for our readers.