IND Vs SA: The lack of zip off the surface, which made it comfortable for the batters, became an issue for the finger spinners.
On the second day of the second Test in Guwahati on Sunday, November 23, 2025, South Africa frustrated the Indian bowling unit to reach 316 for six at tea thanks to batting prowess from Senuran Muthusamy and a defiant approach from Kyle Verreynne.
In addition to adding uninterrupted 70 runs for the seventh wicket with keeper-batter Verreynne (38 batting, 94 balls), who played some edgy shots but eventually settled down nicely, left-hander Muthusamy (56 batting off 131 balls) looked solid in defense on his way to his third Test fifty.
The Proteas took a heavy roller in the morning, which suggests that it would play well at first before rapidly collapsing by the beginning of the third day.
Throughout the second morning, India’s two-finger spinners Washington Sundar (0/45 in 21 overs) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/47 in 18 overs) appeared unremarkable as the Barsapara track flattened out significantly.
The lack of zip off the surface, which made it comfortable for the batters, became an issue for the finger spinners.
In addition to playing some fluid drives, Muthusamy played strong front-foot defense.
Muthusamy, who recently scored 89 not out in a winning cause in the second Test of the previous series against Pakistan and enjoys an average of 46 plus in the conventional format, is unknown to have been the subject of any research by the Indian team management and their data analyst.
When he was judged leg before off Jadeja’s bowling and the TV replays revealed that the ball had touched the gloves, he managed to survive by going for DRS.
Kuldeep Yadav’s variations on a sluggish and unresponsive deck were India’s best chance following Verreynne and Muthusamy’s cautious dismissal of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj’s opening spell.
However, unlike the first day, Kuldeep was struggling in his first five-over spell, so Pant substituted Washington, who was immediately rendered ineffective.
Wickets falling: 1-82, 2-82, 3-166, 4-187, 5-201, 6-246
Indian bowling: Kuldeep Yadav 23-4-72-3, Ravindra Jadeja 18-2-47-1,Jasprit Bumrah 22-9-43-1, Mohammed Siraj 23-4-73-1, Nitish Kumar Reddy 4-0-21-0, Washington Sundar 21-4-45-0.