When Senuran Muthusamy walked off the field on Day 2 of the second Test in Guwahati, he didn’t just leave a century on the scoreboard—he left India reeling. His 109 runs helped South Africa post a commanding 489 in their first innings, leaving the hosts staring down a 480-run deficit with all 10 wickets intact. The match, played at the ACA Stadium (Barsapara), began on November 22, 2025, and is scheduled to conclude on November 26, as part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test ChampionshipGuwahati. And right now, South Africa is in complete control.
How South Africa Built Their Dominance
It wasn’t a flash-in-the-pan innings. South Africa’s 489 was a patient, grinding masterclass. After being bowled out for 153 on Day 1, the Proteas came back with grit. Marco Jansen nearly cracked his maiden Test century, falling for 93. Simon Harmer chipped in with 5 before being bowled by Mohammed Siraj. But it was Muthusamy, the unassuming off-spinner from KwaZulu-Natal, who held the innings together. He reached his half-century off 121 balls in the morning session, then carried on through lunch and tea, surviving 217 deliveries. His knock was the kind that doesn’t dazzle but dismantles—no big sixes, no reckless pulls. Just steady, disciplined cricket.
India’s attack, led by Kuldeep Yadav (4/112), did fight hard. But even the best spinners struggled on a pitch that offered little turn after the first day. Bumrah and Siraj, India’s pace spearheads, finally broke through late in the day—Bumrah clean-bowling Harmer, Siraj trapping Muthusamy lbw with the ball just after tea. But by then, the damage was done. South Africa had turned a shaky 281/6 at tea into 489 all out. That’s not just recovery—that’s rebellion.
India’s Opening Struggles and the Mountain Ahead
When India took the field, they looked composed. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul opened with calm, not panic. Jaiswal, 7 not out, looked fluid. Rahul, 2 not out, played with the quiet authority of a man who’s been here before. But here’s the twist: they’re not just batting against South Africa’s bowlers. They’re batting against history.
India has lost only one Test series at home since 2012. They’ve won 14 of their last 16 home Tests. Yet here they are, trailing by nearly 500 runs on Day 2. And it’s not just the scoreline. It’s the context. This is the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship, where points are everything. South Africa now sits at 12 points in the standings. India? Still at 0. A loss here doesn’t just mean a series defeat—it means a near-impossible climb back into the final race.
Why This Match Matters Beyond the Scoreboard
There’s a quiet tension in Indian cricket circles right now. After years of being called the “invincible” home side, the cracks are showing. The spinners who once ruled Indian pitches are being neutralized. The top order, once feared, is crumbling under pressure. And the pressure isn’t just from the scoreboard—it’s from the commentary box, from social media, from former players who now question whether India’s domestic structure is broken.
One commentator put it bluntly: “South Africa is slowly destroying the so-called fake invincibility built around Indian cricket.” It’s harsh, but not unfounded. India hasn’t won a Test series abroad since 2021. And now, at home, they’re being outplayed by a South African side that’s rebuilding—not rebuilding to survive, but rebuilding to dominate.
Meanwhile, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja both crossed 4,000 Test runs during this series. Milestones, yes. But in a match where their team is 480 runs behind, those numbers feel like footnotes.
What Comes Next: Can India Survive Days 3 and 4?
Day 3 begins with India at 9/0. They need to bat out the entire day just to avoid the follow-on. Then, on Day 4, they’ll need to score 480+ runs in a single day—something no team has done against South Africa in a Test since 2008. Even if they do, South Africa’s bowlers—led by Harmer and the emerging Keshav Maharaj—will be itching to pounce.
There’s no guarantee India will survive. But if they do, it’ll be a testament to resilience. If they don’t, it’ll be the end of an era.
Behind the Scenes: The Tour, the Setup, the Stakes
This Test is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) scheduled a full tour: two Tests, three ODIs, five T20Is. The first Test was moved from Delhi to Kolkata in June 2025 due to weather concerns. Guwahati, a city that rarely hosts Tests, was chosen for its passionate crowd and new stadium infrastructure. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is watching closely—this series could determine who qualifies for the 2027 WTC Final.
South Africa’s squad, led by captain Temba Bavuma, is playing with a freedom rarely seen. No pressure to win at all costs. Just cricket, played hard and clean. India’s squad, packed with stars, looks burdened. The weight of expectation is crushing them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Senuran Muthusamy’s century compare to other South African performances in India?
Muthusamy’s 109 is the highest individual score by a South African batter in India since 2015, surpassing Dean Elgar’s 94 in Chennai. It’s also the first Test century by a South African off-spinner in Asia since Lance Klusener’s 112 in Kolkata in 1996. His knock came on a pitch that offered turn later in the day, making it one of the most technically sound innings by a visiting batter in recent memory.
Why is the 480-run deficit so significant for India?
No team has ever chased more than 450 to win a Test in India since 2000. The highest successful chase was 423 by Australia in 2001. Even drawing the match requires India to bat for over 180 overs on Days 3 and 4, avoiding the follow-on and then batting another full day. With South Africa’s spinners in rhythm, it’s statistically the toughest chase in modern Test history on home soil.
What impact does this have on India’s World Test Championship chances?
India currently sits at 0 points after two Tests in this cycle. A loss here would drop them to 12th in the standings, effectively ending their hopes of reaching the 2027 WTC Final. South Africa, with 12 points, is now firmly in the top four. The next two Tests in this series are worth 30 points each—India can’t afford to lose either if they want to stay alive.
Who are the key players to watch on Day 3?
For India, KL Rahul’s ability to anchor the innings is critical—he’s the only batter with a century in this series. For South Africa, Keshav Maharaj, who took 3 wickets on Day 1, will be the key spinner on a wearing pitch. Also watch Marco Jansen—he’s bowling with renewed pace and could exploit any early cracks in India’s batting.
Is this the end of India’s home dominance in Test cricket?
Not necessarily—but it’s the clearest sign yet that their home advantage is fading. India won 11 of 12 home Tests from 2021 to 2023. Now, they’ve lost two in a row, including this one. The issue isn’t just the pitch—it’s the lack of depth in their top order and over-reliance on a few stars. If BCCI doesn’t overhaul domestic cricket, this won’t be the last time India collapses at home.
When will the next Test between South Africa and India take place?
The first Test of this series was played in Kolkata from November 15–19, 2025. The third and final Test is scheduled for December 1–5, 2025, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. If South Africa wins this one, they’ll clinch the series 2–0, their first Test series win in India since 2006.
