NEW DELHI: The Indian cricket team faced a daunting situation during the fourth day of their Test match against South Africa, struggling under the weight of a massive target of 589 runs. As if this challenge wasn’t enough, the team quickly lost two wickets in a crucial final session, leaving them reeling. South Africa declared their second innings at 260 for 5, setting India an unprecedented target that has never been chased down successfully in Asia.
Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul fell early, contributing to a dire score of 27 for 2 at the end of the day’s play. Jaiswal managed only 13 runs, dismissed by South African fast bowler Marco Jansen, while Rahul added a mere 6 runs before succumbing to spinner Simon Harmer’s bowling. As play concluded, Sai Sudharsan (2 not out off 25 balls) and Kuldeep Yadav (4 not out off 22 balls) were left to navigate a seemingly insurmountable task, with India needing 522 runs to level the two-match series.
Earlier in the day, South African batsmen Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi put up strong resistance against India’s spinners, with Stubbs scoring an impressive 94 runs off 180 balls and de Zorzi adding 49 off 68. Their partnership of 101 runs for the fourth wicket, along with an 82-run collaboration with Wiaan Mulder (35), helped bolster South Africa’s lead, which was the largest ever by a visiting team in India.
As the series stands with India trailing 0-1, South Africa requires just eight Indian wickets on the final day to achieve a historic series sweep. The scenario for India remains bleak; a draw would be considered a remarkable achievement given the circumstances. The highest successful chase in Test cricket in Asia was 395 runs, achieved by the West Indies against Bangladesh in 2021, while India’s record at home is a chase of 387 runs against England in 2008.
With spin bowlers likely to dominate on the final day, South Africa has a team well-equipped for this challenge, featuring Keshav Maharaj, Harmer, and Senuran Muthusamy, along with part-time option Aiden Markram. As Marco Jansen continues to apply pressure with both bat and ball, the Men in Blue are left facing a tough battle as they look to avoid a 0-2 series defeat. The coming day promises to be pivotal as fans watch to see if India can stage an improbable rescue or if South Africa will complete their historical series victory.