At various points over the last two days in Guwahati, the second Test between India and South Africa looked like a contest moving between two extremes. First, India had the visitors at 247 for 6. Then the game suddenly petered out, not because of top-order dominance, but because of defiance from the tail.
Within hours, South Africa had not only recovered. They built a mountain.
Much of the damage was done by Senuran Muthusamy and Marco Jansen. Muthusamy’s first Test century and Jansen’s fighting score of 93 turned a vulnerable position into a formidable 489. From a potential 350 to 375, South Africa pushed India into a space where the match no longer feels winnable by normal means. Now it feels more like a survival exercise than a gunfight.
And therein lies the crux of why this Test is headed for a draw.
IT’S DO OR DIE
It is not impossible for India to still force a result. On a surface built for batting, a long first-innings effort, a quick South African collapse and a last-day chase exist as theoretical outcomes.
In reality, however, these scenarios are far beyond the realm of possibility.
While Test cricket has a habit of surprising, the conditions in Guwahati and the time already lost severely limit India’s options. On a pitch that offered very little to the bowlers, the most realistic outcome is a draw. The only alternative is a surprise victory for South Africa if the surface unexpectedly deteriorates.
Even on a wicket Kuldeep Yadav described as “like a road”, India’s road to victory is layered with complications. To achieve a result, the hosts must first bat long enough to erase the huge deficit. They then have to quickly sack South Africa and eventually chase or defend the target in a shrinking window of time. It’s not just about skills. It’s about precision, timing and flawless execution during every session.
Indian batsmen now find themselves in a unique situation where time at the wicket may matter more than runs. To even keep the dream of tying the series alive, they need to plunge deep into Day 4 and possibly part of Day 5 before thinking about how to get the result. Anything less and overs disappear faster than wickets.
RACE AGAINST TIME
Overs are already disappearing from the match. With delays and slow speeding, an average of 10 to 11 crossings per day were lost in Guwahati. During the five-day test, it works out that around 50 to 55 overs went, almost two full sessions were bowled. By realistic calculations, the equivalent of two days and two sessions has already gone away from the match.
So South Africa have ruled out one of the three possible outcomes?
Probably yes. Their lower ranking did not guarantee a win, but they almost certainly ruled out defeat. With such a huge total on the board and time running out fast, the Proteas removed the imminent threat of a collapse. At worst, they are chasing a draw. At best, they can still force a win if India stumble.
For India, the implications of this series go beyond. Defeat in the home Test series would significantly complicate their Test World Cup calculations. These are the conditions in which the hosts are expected to pick up points. A lack here means India have to make up ground against equally strong opponents like Australia and New Zealand later in the cycle. No simple devices await you.
There is also history in the background.
South Africa have not won a Test series in India for almost 25 years. A draw may not look like glory in Guwahati, but it is all that stands between them and history. By simply avoiding defeat here, they maintain a 1-0 lead and move closer to a rare, defining success on Indian soil.
In the end, this test is not shaping up to be decided by the latest drama or dramatic collapses. It turns into a battle against time itself.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
November 24, 2025
