IND vs SA 2nd Test: South Africa head into Day 3 of the second Test in Guwahati with commanding authority, holding a massive 480-run lead over India after a dominant performance on Day 2. The visitors
batted nearly the entire day, stretching their first-innings total to a daunting 489, courtesy of a blend of resilience, skill, and fearlessness.
India now stand at 9/0, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and stand-in opener KL Rahul at the crease, and a colossal battle awaits the hosts as they look to claw their way back into the contest.
The spotlight will remain on India-origin all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy, who crafted a memorable maiden Test century. His composure under pressure not only steadied South Africa but also helped them seize control of the Test. Marco Jansen's blistering 93 off 91 balls from No. 9 added a brutal finishing touch to the innings, demoralising the Indian attack and ensuring South Africa walked away with a first-innings total well beyond par. Kuldeep Yadav was India's standout bowler with four wickets, though he lacked consistent support from the other end.
Day 3 becomes a test of temperament, technique, and endurance for India. With Rishabh Pant's side having gone wicketless in the opening session of Day 2, concerns around their bowling discipline and on-field intent have surfaced. Now, the focus shifts entirely to their batting. India must first negotiate the morning session without damage, a phase that will be crucial to shaping the narrative for the rest of the match. Jaiswal's aggression and Rahul's composure will be key in laying a platform before the middle order is tested.
South Africa, on the other hand, will sense an opportunity to press further. Their pacers will be eager to exploit early morning conditions, aiming for quick breakthroughs that could open the floodgates.
As the third day dawns, India face a mountainous challenge. A strong, disciplined batting display is their only route back; anything less could put South Africa on the brink of a series-defining victory.
India vs South Africa 2nd Test Session Timings, Day 3: What are the Session Times in India and South Africa?
Play on Day 3 is scheduled to resume at 9:00 AM IST/5:30 AM SAST. The day's proceedings are expected to go on until 4:00 PM IST/12:30 PM SAST in the evening and afternoon respectively.
| Session | IST (UTC+5:30) | SAST (UTC+2:00) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Session | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | 5:30 AM - 7:30 AM |
| Tea (mid-session) | 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM | 7:30 AM - 7:50 AM |
| 2nd Session | 11:20 AM - 1:20 PM | 7:50 AM - 9:50 AM |
| Tea (afternoon) | 1:20 PM - 2:00 PM | 9:50 AM - 10:30 AM |
| 3rd Session | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
Full Squads
India: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant (c) (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Axar Patel, Devdutt Padikkal, Akash Deep.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Zubayr Hamza, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch.
