NEW DELHI: India suffered their biggest defeat in terms of runs on Wednesday, losing the second Test in Guwahati to South Africa by 408 runs. The result gave South Africa their first Test series win in India in 25 years. This was India’s second home whitewash in 13 months, which also hurts their chances of reaching the World Test Championship final.
India resumed Day 5 at 27 for 2, with Kuldeep Yadav (4 off 23) and Sai Sudharsan (2 off 25) at the crease. With 522 runs still needed, a draw was the only possible result they could aim for. Sai Sudharsan’s innings of 14 off 139 balls became the second-slowest Test innings by an Indian batter facing 100 or more balls. Only Yashpal Sharma’s 13 off 157 balls against Australia in 1981 was slower. Sudarshan hit one boundary in the fourth innings and had a strike rate of 10.07. Senuran Muthusamy dismissed him in the second session on the final day. Muthusamy bowled full outside off, the ball went straight, Sudharsan edged it, and Aiden Markram took his eighth catch of the match at first slip. Sudarshan had not played the first Test in Kolkata. Across both innings of the second Test, he scored 29 runs at an average of 14.50 and a strike rate of 16.20. India were never in a position to chase 549. They also did not show resistance on a Day 5 pitch where the ball bounced and turned sharply. Marco Jansen completed the win for South Africa with a one-handed catch that ended India’s innings at 140 in 63.5 overs, sealing the series for the Proteas led by Temba Bavuma.
