Overview
- South Africa declared at 260/5 on Day 4 in Guwahati, leaving India a target of 549 before reducing them to 27/2 at stumps.
- Marco Jansen delivered a match-shaping all‑round display with 93 in the first innings and 6/48 to bowl India out for 201 on a largely true surface.
- Anil Kumble called India’s batting effort “quite poor” and lacking patience, while Dale Steyn praised Temba Bavuma’s tactics and the visitors’ discipline.
- Washington Sundar defended teammates Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel by framing the dismissals as execution errors, echoing Jansen’s view that different outcomes were possible.
- Commentary has raised concerns over Pant’s captaincy debut and body language, and suggested head coach Gautam Gambhir could face heightened scrutiny if the series is lost.