India gained the upper hand against South Africa on day one of the second Test, with the tourists ending at 247-6 at stumps. Kuldeep Yadav was the standout performer with three wickets.South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs and captain Temba Bavuma formed a crucial 84-run partnership for the third wicket. The visitors chose to bat first as they pursue their first Test series victory in India since 1998.
India, the current World Test champions, holds a 1-0 lead after winning the first Test by 30 runs at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.The final session saw Ravindra Jadeja dismiss Bavuma, while Kuldeep prevented Stubbs from reaching his half-century. The large weekend crowd in Guwahati witnessed an engaging display of cricket.Kuldeep Yadav finished with figures of 3-48, including the wicket of Wiaan Mulder. Mohammed Siraj contributed by removing Tony de Zorzi, who scored 28 runs.Bad light forced an early end to play with Senuran Muthusamy (25) and Kyle Verreynne (1) at the crease. The day’s play lasted 81.5 overs instead of the standard 90 overs.The opening pair of Aiden Markram (38) and Ryan Rickelton (35) put on 82 runs before falling to Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep respectively.Bavuma and Stubbs showed resilience at the crease, consistently scoring boundaries and effectively playing against the Indian spinners.Jadeja broke the partnership by dismissing Bavuma, who had scored a fifty in the previous Test. The South African captain was caught at mid-off.Stubbs managed to hit a six off Jadeja but was soon caught at slip off Kuldeep’s bowling.The day’s play began 30 minutes earlier than usual at India’s newest Test venue. The session breaks were reorganized, with tea preceding lunch, and over 15,000 fans attended the opening day.Markram’s innings ended when he inside-edged a Bumrah delivery onto his stumps just before tea.Kuldeep struck immediately after the break, ending Rickelton’s 82-ball innings.The South African openers started cautiously, with Markram scoring his first boundary, a cover drive off Bumrah, on his 17th delivery.A missed opportunity occurred when KL Rahul dropped a straightforward catch at second slip off Bumrah’s bowling.South Africa, coming off a 1-1 series draw in Pakistan, continues their quest for their first series win in India since 2000, when Hansie Cronje led the team to victory.
