Guwahati: Kuldeep Yadav’s impressive three-wicket performance was the highlight on the first day of the inaugural Test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, as a determined India restricted South Africa to 247/6 in 81.5 overs, with bad light cutting the day short. The left-arm wrist-spinner achieved figures of 3-48, while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja each contributed with a wicket, rewarding India’s persistence with four dismissals in the last session. Despite a good pitch for batting, no South African batsman managed to convert their starts into a half-century. Each time they attempted to increase the scoring rate, India was quick to capitalize and take wickets, preventing the visitors from gaining a significant advantage on the opening day.
With South Africa now in their lower order, India will aim to finish the innings swiftly on Day Two. After choosing to bat first, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton provided South Africa with a steady start against Bumrah and Siraj, who offered decent carry and swing, although two sets of byes were charged to wicketkeeper and captain Rishabh Pant. The atmosphere at India’s newest Test venue was subdued due to low attendance, unlike the well-attended Eden Gardens Test the previous week, but Bumrah and Siraj kept the openers under control. Markram opened his account with a solid shot off Bumrah for four and survived a scare on four when Rahul dropped a catch at slip.
As Siraj bowled too full and wide, Markram and Rickelton found some boundaries, leading South Africa to 34/0 at the first drinks break. Nitish Kumar Reddy struggled with consistency, often drifting onto the pads and conceding boundaries to Markram, while Kuldeep and Washington Sundar found some turn and bounce, although Rickelton managed a few streaky boundaries off them. The second session started positively for India as Yadav bowled a flighted delivery that drifted in before spinning away, resulting in Rickelton’s outside edge being caught by Pant, causing South Africa to lose both set batsmen in quick succession. Brief scores: South Africa 247/6 in 81.5 overs (Tristan Stubbs 49, Temba Bavuma 41; Kuldeep Yadav 3-48, Ravindra Jadeja 1-30) against India.
