South Africa crush hosts India by an astonishing 408 runs to win the second and final Test in Guwahati.
Simon Harmer’s brilliant haul of 6/37, his second Test fifer, gifted India their highest ever Test loss (by runs)- eclipsing a 389 run defeat to Australia at Nagpur back in 2004.
Ravindra Jadeja top-scored with 54 in a failed pursuit of a mammoth 549, meanwhile no other batter passed 16 in an innings littered with soft dismissals.
Marco Jansen’s fabulous figures of 6/48 and quick-fire 93 from number nine were also crucial in propelling Temba Bavuma’s side towards victory, as was Senuran Muthasamy’s maiden Test century in partnership with the left-arm quick.
Today’s loss caps off a torrid series and year in the longest format for India, who also fell to an agonising 30-run loss in the first Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
There they failed to chase just 124 as they slipped to 93 all-out in only 35 overs.
The loss of skipper Shubman Gill to injury may have affected morale inside the Indian camp, but nobody predicted such a whimpering performance in their bid to save the series.
A comfortable 2-0 series victory against a poor West Indies side last month will have given the squad confidence, however they simply had no answers for a much improved opposition who were simply more up for the fight.
Gautam Gambhir’s position as head coach is now under huge pressure, with many calling for him to be sacked.
As for the Proteas, this is another encouraging sign of the talent and depth in their ranks after securing the World Test Championship trophy against Australia at Lord’s back in June.
Few gave them much chance in the series given Kagiso Rabada’s absence and the strength of India’s lineup, however outstanding contributions from the likes of Harmer and Marco Jansen ensured India lost their second series at home in the space of a year.
The tourists have now won three Tests in a row on Asian soil, following a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi last month.
What’s next?
The two sides face off once more in a three-match ODI series, starting on Sunday November 30.
They will then contest five T20I’s- all of which will be great preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka come February.
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