Guwahati, India – November 22, 2025 – Day 1 of the second Test between India and South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati has delivered a compelling narrative, marked by a resilient South African batting display and an unfortunate injury scare for India’s pace spearhead, Mohammed Siraj. At the lunch interval on a historic day for Guwahati, hosting its first-ever Test match, South Africa stood firm at 156/2, seizing the early momentum in a crucial encounter.

Breaking news from the middle reported a collision involving Mohammed Siraj and Tristan Stubbs while ‘ball watching’, leading to Siraj hurting his leg. The physio was immediately on the field to attend to him, casting a pall of concern over the Indian camp. While the extent of the injury remains to be seen, a potential setback to such a key bowler could significantly hamper India’s efforts to restrict the Proteas on a pitch described as ‘good for batting’ and expected to ‘play well the first two days’.

South Africa’s Measured Dominance

Winning the toss, South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma made the strategic decision to bat first, a call that has so far paid dividends. The Proteas’ openers, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton, weathered the initial storm, building a crucial 50-run partnership. This stand, which eventually reached 60 runs, marked the highest partnership of the series, surpassing the 57-run effort by India’s KL Rahul and Washington Sundar in the first Test.

Markram, who scored 38, showed glimpses of his attacking prowess, hitting two boundaries off Washington Sundar. However, India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah eventually provided the breakthrough, ‘removing Aiden Markram for 38 in style’ with a delivery that ‘rattled up the stumps’ just before the tea break, preventing South Africa from having an entirely unblemished first session. Ryan Rickelton, who contributed 35, continued to defy the Indian bowlers into the second session until Kuldeep Yadav ‘joined the party’ with a ‘terrific delivery’, getting him caught behind by captain Rishabh Pant, bringing India their second wicket.

Despite losing both openers, South Africa quickly consolidated, largely thanks to the burgeoning partnership between captain Temba Bavuma and young Tristan Stubbs. By lunch, the duo had added an unbeaten 72 runs, with Bavuma on 36* and Stubbs on 32*. Their stand was described as ‘changing the game for South Africa’ and a ‘terrific partnership’, effectively blunting the Indian attack and pushing the score past the 150-run mark. Bavuma displayed his class with boundaries off Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj, while Stubbs showcased his power by hitting a ‘massive six’ off Kuldeep Yadav.

India’s Day of Missed Opportunities and Growing Concerns

For India, Day 1 brought a mix of frustration and concern. The morning session began with an early missed opportunity when KL Rahul ‘failed to grab it properly’ at first slip, dropping Aiden Markram off Jasprit Bumrah. Such lapses in the field can be costly in Test cricket, particularly against a touring side looking to build momentum. The team also ‘wasted their DRS review’ on an LBW appeal against Temba Bavuma off Ravindra Jadeja, with the TV umpire confirming the ball was ‘missing the stumps’, adding to their woes.

While Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav provided the vital breakthroughs, the overall bowling effort seemed to lack the penetration expected, especially as the Stubbs-Bavuma partnership blossomed. India’s bowlers were ‘looking a bit clueless’ at times, struggling to find a way to break the stand, and Mohammed Siraj, despite his efforts, went wicketless with figures of 0/34 from 11 overs before his injury scare. The introduction of all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy into the attack underscored India’s desperation for a wicket.

Rishabh Pant’s Captaincy Under Scrutiny

This match sees Rishabh Pant leading India for the 38th time in Tests, becoming only the second wicketkeeper after MS Dhoni to do so. His captaincy, however, is already under the scanner following the first Test defeat in Kolkata, where his ‘tactics and decisions came under the scanner’. The delay in bringing in Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah on the third morning of the previous Test, allowing Temba Bavuma to add crucial runs, raised questions. In Guwahati, Pant faces the ‘immensely challenging leadership exam’ of restoring parity against a well-prepared South African side. With Shubman Gill out due to a neck injury, and Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy stepping in for him and Axar Patel respectively, Pant’s strategic acumen will be rigorously tested, especially in managing his bowling resources and maintaining intensity.

Guwahati’s Historic Debut and Pitch Conditions

The Barsapara Cricket Stadium’s debut as a Test venue is a proud moment for Guwahati. The pitch report from Deep Dasgupta and Shaun Pollock described a ‘red soil pitch’ with ‘substantial grass cover’, ‘nice and hard’, and expected to ‘play well the first two days’. They noted ‘a little bit of moisture on the deck’ early on, suggesting that batting first and ‘negotiate the first hour’ was key. So far, Bavuma’s decision to bat seems vindicated, as South Africa has largely capitalized on the good batting conditions, making it harder for India to replicate the rapid wickets seen on the challenging Eden Gardens pitch in the first Test.

Looking Ahead: India’s Redemption Battle

As Day 1 progresses, the narrative firmly rests with South Africa. Their ability to consolidate after losing quick wickets and forge a robust partnership speaks volumes of their preparation and determination. For India, the challenge is clear: break this partnership swiftly, prevent South Africa from posting a monumental first-innings total, and hope that Siraj’s injury is not serious enough to keep him out of the attack. The hosts, reeling from a ‘shocking 30-run defeat’ in the first Test, face a daunting task of ‘restoring parity’ in this crucial Freedom Trophy encounter. The next session will be pivotal in determining the overall trajectory of this Test match, with India desperate for wickets and South Africa keen to further their advantage.

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