Former India captain Anil Kumble expressed disappointment at India’s passive tactics in the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati. After the first wicketless session of the series, Kumble questioned the Indian team management and pointed the finger at stand-in captain Rishabh Pant for not attacking enough with his fielding positions during the morning of Day 2.
IND v SA, Test Day 2 Update | Scorecard
All-rounder Senuran Muthusamy and wicket-keeper batsman Kyle Verreynne remained unbeaten as they added 69 runs in the morning session. When India dismissed Tony de Zorzi late on Saturday night, South Africa were reeling at 246 for 6. However, the hosts failed to make any inroads on Sunday morning as Muthusamy and Verreynne looked solid and frustrated the Indian bowlers.
At the tea break on Day 2, South Africa were 316 for 6 after India had bowled out 111 overs, with questions being raised about Pant’s captaincy in the absence of Shubman Gill, who was ruled out due to injury.
Speaking to Star Sports, Kumble said that India did not have close fielders during the first session when Muthusamy and Verreynne were still settling into today’s match. India started with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj before turning to their spinners, but neither was able to provide a breakthrough.
Muthusamy looked comfortable at the crease, showing no urgency to force the pace. The left-hander kept spinning the strike with ones and twos and added a stand of 70 runs in 179 deliveries.
“I thought they could have been a bit more aggressive at the start – attacking a bit more. We finally saw that in the last game before tea when they brought in short leg, stupid point and packed the fielders. I know the pitch doesn’t respond to the spinners like other surfaces, but you still have to do things and try different options,” Kumble said.
“But credit to the South African batsmen. Both Muthusamy and Kyle Verreynne batted exceptionally well. They used their feet beautifully – and I don’t just mean pitching but also using the depth of the crease,” he added.
The legendary spinner said South Africa would like to play time in the Test match, given that they hold a 1-0 lead in the series.
INDIA at a loss?
Kumble also wondered if India were struggling to adapt to a pitch offering little help, having played so much Test cricket in recent years on spinner-friendly surfaces where wickets were considerably easier than in Guwahati.
“Partly because the Indian bowlers and that fielding strategy allowed him to settle in. On a pitch where there’s not much going on, you have to do things. You have to force the batsman to shoot – that’s how you create wickets. We’ve seen that happen with Bavuma, Wiaan Mulder, even Stubbs, when you’re trying to bowl when you wanted to bowl. up.” he said.
“If you have long, long, deep cover from the start, it becomes comfortable for the batsmen. India may just be unaccustomed to wickets not falling regularly; they are used to pitches where the spinners naturally dominate. On these surfaces, you don’t worry too much about field placement – just keep the man around the bat and wait. But they have to create for this wicket.”
India found themselves under pressure as South Africa batted for almost a day and a half and showed no urgency to step up as it was not up to them to force the game in the context of the series.
India are now in danger of being whitewashed again in the home Test series. Last year, New Zealand beat India 3-0 to become the first visiting team to do so in the history of the sport.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
November 23, 2025
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