South Africa Close In on Historic Test Whitewash in India
Let me walk you through what’s unfolding in Guwahati right now, because this Test match has turned into one of those scenarios where history feels almost within touching distance—just not for the home side. South Africa have positioned themselves on the brink of a first Test series win in India since the year 2000, and the pressure on the hosts has been immense from the very start of day four.
India were already trailing in the series after losing the opener in Kolkata, and their first-innings collapse for just 201 really set the tone for what followed. By the time South Africa resumed their second innings at 26 without loss, they already had a sizeable lead. But even then, the visitors stumbled briefly, slipping to 77 for 3. That little wobble didn’t last long, though, because Tristan Stubbs stepped in and completely shifted the momentum.
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Stubbs played what can only be described as a match-defining innings. His 94 was constructed with patience and confidence, and the partnerships he built were what truly hurt India. A century stand with Tony de Zorzi steadied the innings, and an 82-run partnership with Wiaan Mulder pushed the lead beyond anything remotely chaseable. Even though Stubbs missed out on a hundred—bowled by a clever slower ball from Ravindra Jadeja—his contribution had already done the damage. South Africa declared at 260 for 5, leaving India a colossal target of 549.
And the response from India? Well, it started poorly and only got tougher. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul fell within the first 10 overs, both undone by sharp, disciplined bowling. Marco Jansen, who already dominated India in the first innings, struck again by removing Jaiswal, while Simon Harmer produced a beautiful delivery to knock over Rahul. By stumps, India were stuck at 27 for 2, still needing 522 runs—an almost mythical task in Test cricket.
Kuldeep Yadav was sent out as nightwatchman and held on, and Sai Sudharsan is still there too, but the reality is simple: India must bat out three entire sessions to avoid a 0–2 whitewash at home. That’s something they’ve managed only once this century.
South Africa, meanwhile, can sense it. They have eight wickets to take, a turning pitch to exploit, and an attack built for final-day pressure. With spinners like Keshav Maharaj, Harmer, and Senuran Muthusamy in the mix—and Jansen ready to rough up batters with steep bounce—the Proteas are perfectly placed to finish the job.
Unless India pull off a miracle or at least mount one of their great modern-day defenses, this series looks destined to go down as a landmark triumph for South Africa—and a moment of reckoning for Indian Test cricket at home.
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