Mon Nov 24 04:10:00 UTC 2025: India’s Batting Collapses on Day 3, Faces Potential Series Whitewash Against South Africa
Guwahati, India – India’s batting lineup suffered a dramatic collapse on Day 3 of the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati, leaving the home side facing a potential series whitewash. After a promising start, the middle order crumbled, with Rishabh Pant’s aggressive shot selection drawing heavy criticism from former cricketers Anil Kumble and Dale Steyn.
Kumble slammed Pant’s approach, suggesting he should have emulated Temba Bavuma’s patient captaincy from the first Test. Steyn echoed these sentiments, arguing that Pant’s aggressive approach was ill-suited to the situation.
The collapse saw India slump to 105/5 at tea, trailing South Africa by a massive 384 runs. The Proteas’ bowlers, particularly Marco Jansen, exploited the bounce and pace of the pitch, while the Indian batsmen were criticized for poor shot selection and a lack of patience.
Former Indian batter Priyank Panchal drew parallels to India’s struggles against spin in the New Zealand series, raising questions about the team’s ability to handle quality spin bowling. Ravi Shastri, on commentary, described the Indian batting as “ordinary.”
Despite the batting woes, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav offered some resistance with a spirited partnership of 50 runs for the eighth wicket before lunch. Their resilience showed how patience could be successful on the track, in contrast to the impetuousness shown by others.
However, India still need to score 133 runs to avoid the follow-on.
First Piper 