south africa vs india day 2

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South Africa – 1st Innings Batting Scorecard

india 1st Innings Batting Scorecard

Harmer Drags South Africa Back into Gritty Contest on Day Two

Kolkata, November 14, 2025 – The highly anticipated Test match between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens roared to life on Day Two, transitioning from India’s dominant start to a fiercely contested battle as South Africa’s spinners—led by the ever-effective Simon Harmer—scripted a dramatic fightback. After Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul had bundled the Proteas out for a modest 159 on the opening day, India, resuming on 37/1, found the path to a commanding lead far from straightforward.

The morning session was a microcosm of the match’s volatile nature. India began cautiously, with overnight batters KL Rahul and Washington Sundar looking to consolidate. Rahul, who also completed a significant milestone of 4,000 Test runs early in the day, showed characteristic resilience, weathering the initial bursts from the South African pace attack. The pair added a valuable 50-run partnership, frustrating Temba Bavuma’s men and moving India closer to parity.

The Spin Menace: Harmer’s Double-Strike Changes Momentum

However, the introduction of South Africa’s spin duo, Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, proved to be the pivotal turning point. The Eden Gardens pitch, already showing signs of uneven bounce and turn, began to offer increased assistance, and Harmer capitalized immediately. Bowling from the end that had begun to break up, the off-spinner struck a crucial blow by dismissing Washington Sundar (29), breaking the settled partnership.

South Africa pressed their advantage, and the wheels momentarily came off the Indian innings. Soon after, left-arm orthodox spinner Keshav Maharaj got into the act, producing a beautiful delivery that pitched and turned to catch the edge of KL Rahul’s bat, ending his patient knock of 39.

India’s troubles deepened when skipper Shubman Gill, who had just come to the crease, was forced to retire hurt with a neck spasm, adding an element of uncertainty to India’s middle-order plans.

Counter-Attack and Late Collapse

In an attempt to seize back the initiative, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant opted for a characteristic counter-attack. His quick-fire 27 was sprinkled with boundaries, providing a much-needed injection of pace into the Indian scoring. However, his aggressive intent proved to be his undoing, falling to a cleverly directed bouncer from pace bowler Corbin Bosch just as he threatened to dominate.

The post-lunch session saw Harmer return to inflict further damage. The off-spinner removed the promising Dhruv Jurel (14) with a sharp caught-and-bowled, and shortly after, dismissed the seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for 27, trapping him plumb-in-front after a patient stay. Jadeja’s departure meant India had slipped to 171/6, despite having crossed South Africa’s first-innings total.

The Bottom Line: Advantage India, But Only Just

By the time the day’s play neared its end, the scorecard showed India having taken a slender, yet vital, first-innings lead. The day belonged in parts to both sides. India’s top and middle-order batters made starts—Rahul (39), Sundar (29), Pant (27), and Jadeja (27)—but failed to convert them into the match-defining hundreds often seen on such surfaces.

The hero for South Africa was undoubtedly Simon Harmer, whose exceptional spell brought him a three-wicket haul, hauling his team back from the brink of a massive deficit.

With India’s deep batting line-up relying on the remaining batters like Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav to eke out a defendable lead, and the injured Shubman Gill‘s status uncertain, the Test match hangs tantalizingly in the balance. Every run from here will be gold, as the Eden Gardens surface promises to degrade further, making the third day’s play a truly decisive contest.

south africa vs india day 2