Legendary Indian cricketer Anil Kumble has outlined a critical strategy for India’s survival in the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati: the team must bat with unwavering resolve for the next two days. South Africa established a commanding first-innings total of 489, fueled by Senuran Muthusamy’s maiden Test century (109) and Marco Jansen’s aggressive 93. India closed Day 2 at 9/0, facing an imposing 480-run deficit.
Kumble stressed the necessity of patience and a disciplined batting effort, anticipating a pitch that will gradually become more challenging for batsmen. “I expect a bit more wear and tear tomorrow, and the spinners will certainly come into the game. But it will still be a good wicket to bat on, runs won’t be difficult,” he commented. “For India, this is a must-win Test. They’ve endured six tough sessions already, and the focus now must be on how they can bat through the next two days.”
The role of young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is paramount. Kumble advised him to prioritize seeing off the initial spell from the South African pacers, particularly Marco Jansen. “Yashasvi will have a role to play, but not necessarily straight away. He needs 30 to 45 minutes to adjust and survive Jansen’s first spell. If he does that, we’ll see the dominant Jaiswal everyone knows,” Kumble said.
India’s bowlers worked hard, with Kuldeep Yadav taking four wickets and others contributing two each. However, they couldn’t break the crucial partnership between Muthusamy and Jansen, who were instrumental in pushing South Africa’s score to near 500. Jansen’s seven sixes were a highlight, matching a record for a lower-order batter in India.
Kumble identified Marco Jansen’s fearless batting as the pivotal factor that shifted the game’s momentum. “Marco Jansen completely changed the game. He trusts his batting; he’s carrying more than four bats. He handled spin brilliantly and was comfortable against the short ball,” Kumble observed.
With South Africa in a dominant position and eyeing a rare away series victory, India’s resilience in the coming two days of batting will be the ultimate test of their ability to stay in the contest.