Ravindra Jadeja returned figures of 4-29 as South Africa collapsed to 93-7 in 35 overs by stumps on the second day of the opening Test, leaving India firmly on top after a frenetic day in which 15 wickets fell.
India earlier managed 189 in their first innings, taking a narrow 30-run lead after dismissing the visitors for 159. Despite the advantage being slim, the hosts dominated the evening session to dismantle the Proteas’ top and middle order.
South Africa now hold an overall lead of 63 runs on a pitch offering unpredictable bounce and turn. At close, captain Temba Bavuma was battling on 29 off 78 balls, with Corbin Bosch unbeaten on 1. Bad light forced an early end to play for the second straight day.
India opened the second innings with spin from both ends, and Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav immediately found purchase. Yadav trapped Ryan Rickelton lbw for 11 at tea to make it 18-1, triggering a steady slide.
Jadeja then tore through the Proteas with a disciplined spell. Aiden Markram fell for four at short leg, Wiaan Mulder nicked behind for 11, and Toni de Zorzi (2) became his second victim of the 17th over. Tristan Stubbs was bowled for five, failing to read a straight one.
Axar Patel removed Kyle Verreynne for nine with a delivery that sneaked through, reducing South Africa to 75-6. Marco Jansen swung his way to 13 before Yadav picked him off, though Bavuma held up one end to push the match into Day 3.
Earlier, India’s batting also faltered. Off-spinner Simon Harmer led South Africa’s attack with 4-30, while Jansen took 3-35.
Starting the day at 37-1, Lokesh Rahul and Washington Sundar put on 38 runs in the opening hour. But South Africa struck three times in the next hour despite India adding 63 runs. Sundar edged Harmer for 29, and captain Shubman Gill retired hurt after feeling discomfort in his neck while hitting a boundary. He did not resume his innings and is believed to have a neck spasm, leaving vice-captain Rishabh Pant in charge.
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Rahul made 39 before falling to Keshav Maharaj. Pant lifted the scoring rate with a brisk 27 off 24 balls, featuring two sixes, before Bosch bounced him out just before lunch.
After the interval, Dhruv Jurel chipped a simple return catch to Harmer. Jadeja contributed 27 off 45 and crossed 4,000 Test runs, becoming only the fourth all-rounder—after Kapil Dev, Ian Botham and Daniel Vettori—to pair 4,000 runs with 300 wickets.
Jansen then swept aside the Indian tail, with Axar offering brief resistance for 16 before becoming Harmer’s final wicket.
Despite their modest total, India tightened their grip by the close.
“Batting positively is the only way here,” Axar Patel said. “You can’t just defend because you’re never fully in. You have to put away the loose balls. Patience is key. If we can keep them under 125, the chase should be manageable tomorrow.”
South Africa last won a Test in India 15 years ago.
The second Test begins Nov. 22 at Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium, which will host a men’s Test for the first time after staging several matches in the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup. India swept West Indies 2-0 in their most recent series, while South Africa drew 1-1 in Pakistan.
Source: AP