Former keeper-batter Saba Karim reckons that India need to post a score of around 600 at a fast pace to try and push for a result in the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati. He added that India could also try to get as close to the Proteas total and then bowl them out quickly in the second innings.
South Africa completely dominated Day 2 of the second Test against India at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday, November 23. Resuming their first innings on 247-6, they went on to post 489 as Senuran Muthusamy (109) scored a maiden hundred, while Marco Jansen smashed 93 off 91 balls.
With three days left and a number of overs being lost due to bad light, India’s chances of victory have diminished severely. During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Karim admitted that India will have to play extraordinary cricket to pull off a win in Guwahati from the position they find themselves in. He commented:
“Let’s try and work out some kind of a scenario from India’s point of view. First is to get to a score of maybe 600, depends on how India bats. So, if you have a lead of 100-110, that’s one way of achieving a result. But for that to happen, India has to bat for close to two days. You have to achieve it a healthy strike rate. Otherwise, it seems very difficult.
“The other thing is that, you get close to South Africa’s first-innings score, maybe 30-40 runs short. Try and bowl out South Africa as soon as possible and try and get those runs in the fourth innings,” the 58-year-old went on to add.
Indian left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav claimed 4-115 from 29.1 overs in South Africa’s first innings. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja picked up two wickets each.
“He can apply pressure on the South African bowling” – Saba Karim on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s importance on Day 3 of IND vs SA 2025 2nd Test
Karim reckons that for India to have any chance of pushing for an unlikely win in Guwahati, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Rishabh Pant will have to play a major role. Stating that the other batters can play around the two aggressive hitters, the former India keeper said:
“Yes, in a big way. The way Yashasvi Jaiswal has batted in his entire Test career, if he gets off to a good start, he can apply pressure on the South African bowling line-up and very quickly they’ll have to resort to the spinners. Both Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant will play a big role. The other batters can play around these two.”
At stumps on Day 2 of the Guwahati Test, India were 9-0 after 6.1 overs. Jaiswal was batting on seven and KL Rahul on two.
Edited by Renin Wilben Albert
