India nose ahead with regular strikes on opening day in Guwahati

It was a day of promising starts and a couple of 80-run stands, but the opening day of the Guwahati Test ended with India nosing slightly ahead. Each of the top seven South African batters reached double digits, but only Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma crossed 40 as India made regular incisions to prevent the visitors from running away with the game. Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja picked up one each, leaving South Africa at 247/6 at stumps at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.

Opting to bat, South Africa started well with an 82-run opening partnership. Aiden Markram was dropped early on 4 by KL Rahul off Bumrah but capitalized on the reprieve, adding 34 with Ryan Rickelton in the first hour without loss. The openers grew in confidence, finding regular boundaries. Nitish Reddy, one of India’s two inclusions, conceded 21 in his first four overs as the South African openers posted their second half-century stand of the series.

There was bounce and some spin on offer, but the openers handled it well and looked set to see out the first session unscathed. However, Bumrah returned late in the session and dismissed Markram for 38, with an inside edge onto the stumps just before Tea. South Africa went into the break at 82/1.

Kuldeep struck early in the second session, removing Rickelton for 35 with an edge to the keeper. Bavuma and Stubbs then built a stubborn partnership, keeping the Indian bowlers at bay and ensuring the scoreboard kept moving. Bavuma hit two successive fours off Siraj, while Stubbs lofted Kuldeep for a six despite a deep fielder.

India lost a review when Bavuma missed a sweep off Jadeja, with replays showing the ball sliding down leg. Bavuma went on to bring up 1000 Test runs as captain, reaching the milestone in his 20th innings—joint second-fastest for South Africa. Both batters entered the 30s, extending their partnership past 70 as South Africa reached 156/2 at Lunch.

After the break, Stubbs and Bavuma began positively, each hitting a boundary before Bavuma charged Jadeja and was caught at deep mid-off, ending an 84-run stand. Stubbs neared a half-century with a four off Bumrah and a six off Jadeja but fell to Kuldeep for 49, edging behind at 187/4. Kuldeep struck again to remove Wiaan Mulder for 201/5, caught at mid-off while attempting to go over the top.

Tony de Zorzi kept the scoreboard ticking despite the quick wickets, hitting a four and a six in one over off Kuldeep. Senuran Muthusamy, replacing Corbin Bosch, provided support and struck a couple of boundaries off Washington Sundar. However, de Zorzi fell to the second new ball in the final over before Stumps, edging Siraj as the ball seamed away.

Brief scores: South Africa 247/6 (Tristan Stubbs 49, Temba Bavuma 41; Kuldeep Yadav 3-48) vs India.