South Africa firmly established their dominance in the second Test against India, finishing Day 3 with a score of 26 without loss in their second innings, giving them a significant 314-run lead. The openers Ryan Rickelton (13*) and Aiden Markram (12*) navigated eight overs before bad light interrupted play, leaving South Africa in a commanding position with two days remaining in the match.
Earlier in the day, India struggled with the bat, bowled out for 201 in 83.5 overs in response to South Africa’s formidable first-innings total of 489. The hosts began the day at a promising 9 for no loss but swiftly fell apart, collapsing to 102 for 4 by the tea break. Despite some resistance from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 58, and Washington Sundar, who contributed 48, the Indian batting lineup faltered against South Africa’s seam attack.
After a dramatic slide to 122 for 7, Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav put on a valiant 72-run partnership for the eighth wicket, but once Sundar was dismissed, the remaining wickets fell quickly. Kuldeep managed to defend admirably for a total of 19 runs off 134 balls before being caught out. Marco Jansen’s exceptional performance was a highlight for South Africa, as he claimed 6 for 48, supported by Simon Harmer, who took 3 for 64.
India’s batting woes continued with significant contributions missing from key players; KL Rahul (22), Sai Sudharsan (15), Dhruv Jurel (0), captain Rishabh Pant (7), Ravindra Jadeja (6), and Nitish Kumar Reddy (10) all fell cheaply, leaving the team with a mountain to climb.
With the series already in South Africa’s favor after their narrow victory in the first Test, they are now well-positioned to achieve a rare Test series win on Indian soil, a feat not accomplished since 2000. Facing such a significant deficit, India are left hoping for changes in momentum or weather that could aid their recovery in the remaining days of the match. The tension is palpable as both teams look to exert their will, with South Africa eyeing a historic series triumph.