India began the second morning still 122 runs behind with nine wickets in hand, but in six manic hours the match turned on its head. At stumps, India were forcing the pace for victory, having left South Africa effectively 63 for 7 in the second innings. It was one of those days: 15 wickets fell, Shubman Gill retired hurt due to a neck spasm, no batsman got past 39, and the highest partnership was worth 57. Incredibly, this became the lowest top score in the first two innings of any Test in India, and the lowest anywhere since the 2010-11 Durban Test between these two teams. A surface that looked like just another Indian pitch early in the day had turned into a minefield – its top layer started breaking up late on day one, and by day two batting had become near impossible. Even the quicks went on a feeding frenzy, taking 11 of the 26 wickets.
The pitch also raised eyebrows because India had spoken last year, after their loss to New Zealand, about wanting more balanced wickets. On air, Dinesh Karthik mentioned that the surface wasn’t watered the day before the Test an unusual detail. But what remained perfectly familiar was Ravindra Jadeja dominating on a turning track. Before being trapped lbw by Simon Harmer for a composed 27, Jadeja showed his trademark control. Harmer, too, justified the praise around him, proving how much he has evolved since touring India a decade ago. His 4 for 30 restricted India to a lead of just 30 after South Africa’s 159 on day one.
Jadeja then showed how decisive even a modest lead could be. Bowling a relentless 13-over spell worth 4 for 29, he left South Africa reeling at 93 for 7. Early in the day, India looked set for a commanding position when KL Rahul the match’s top scorer and new No. 3 Washington Sundar stitched together the joint-highest stand. But once Harmer came on, he struck instantly, beating Washington’s edge and then taking it. At 75 for 2, India were comfortable, but Gill’s neck spasm, which surfaced right after a sweep for four, further unsettled them. Rahul (39), Pant (27) and Jadeja (27) all looked promising but every batter eventually fell to the pitch’s unpredictable turn and bounce. Pant was surprised by extra lift from Corbin Bosch, Jadeja fell to natural variation, and Rahul chased a sharply turning ball from Maharaj.
The leaked runs notwithstanding, Maharaj’s combination with Marco Jansen, who picked up 3 for 35 in Rabada’s absence -ensured India’s lower order couldn’t stretch the lead, with the last four wickets adding only 36. When India came out to bowl again, with close to 30 minutes left for tea, it made sense to start with spin. Bumrah did take the new ball from the livelier end after his five-wicket haul in the first innings, but spin took over soon after. Kuldeep Yadav struck with the final ball before the interval, getting Ryan Rickelton with one that held its line and punished his hesitation.
Pant, leading while Gill was off the field, immediately handed the ball to Jadeja from the end offering natural variation. On such pitches, it’s often the deliveries around the wicket-taking balls that unsettle batters, and that played out perfectly. Aiden Markram checked a sweep that held up off the surface, Tony de Zorzi fell to a sharp bounce after reverse-sweeping the previous ball, and Wiaan Mulder eventually edged a big turner after resisting for a while. Jadeja then outfoxed Tristan Stubbs with subtle changes in angle, finally going wide of the crease to turn one past him and clip off stump. The attempts to counterattack from South Africa were also mixed.
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Kyle Verreynne was criticised for slog-sweeping Axar when run-scoring options were rare. Jansen’s positive approach came off briefly before he gloved a sweep off Kuldeep for 13. The fielding remained top-notch on either side – Rahul capped India’s day with a sharp low catch at slip via a deflection off Pant. Temba Bavuma fought hard for his unbeaten 29 off 78, mixing up defence with the odd sweep, but South Africa ended the day still needing a miracle to stay alive in the contest.
