Kuldeep shines with 3 wickets as India restrict South Africa to 247/6 in Guwahati Test
Kuldeep Yadav picked three wickets as India restricted South Africa to 247/6 on the opening day of the Guwahati Test. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja struck once each, with India taking four wickets in the final session
Guwahati: Kuldeep Yadav’s three-wicket haul became the standout bowling effort on the opening day of the first-ever Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, as a persistent India restricted South Africa to 247/6 in 81.5 overs before bad light forced stumps early.
The left-arm wrist-spinner returned figures of 3-48, while Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja took a wicket each as India were rewarded for their persistence by picking four wickets in the final session. On a good red soil batting pitch, all South African batters got starts, but none converted them into a half-century.
Each time the batters looked to accelerate, India were sharp enough to seize the opportunity and pick scalps, ensuring the visitors never fully ran away with opening day honours. With South Africa now into their lower order, India will aim to wrap up the innings quickly on Day Two.
Earlier, after electing to bat first, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton ensured South Africa had a steady start against new-ball bowlers Bumrah and Siraj. The duo got decent carry and swing, though two sets of byes went against wicketkeeper and skipper Rishabh Pant’s name.
Though the atmosphere was subdued at India’s newest Test venue due to sparse attendance, in contrast to the well-attended Eden Gardens Test last week, Bumrah and Siraj continued to keep the openers in check. Markram finally opened his account with a solid punch off Bumrah for four, before surviving a scare when Rahul dropped his catch at slip.
With Siraj bowling a touch too full and wide, Markram and Rickelton scored boundaries off him, as South Africa reached 34/0 at the first drinks break. Nitish Kumar Reddy struggled for consistency, drifting onto the pads too often and conceding runs, while Kuldeep and Washington Sundar found some turn and bounce, though Rickelton got streaky boundaries off them.
Pant’s decision to bring Bumrah late in the session paid off when he had Markram chopping on to his stumps for 38, and Rahul, who had earlier spilled a chance, smiled in relief as India finally had a wicket before tea.
The second session began with a bang for India as Kuldeep got a flighted delivery to drift in before spinning away, and Rickelton’s outside edge was safely pouched by Pant. South Africa suddenly lost both set batters in quick succession.
Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs then steadied the innings. Bavuma pulled and punched Siraj for boundaries, while Stubbs lofted Kuldeep for six. The duo added 84 runs before Jadeja dismissed Bavuma for 41, attempting a lofted drive that went to mid-off.
Stubbs fell for 49 when Kuldeep’s delivery bounced a fraction more and held its line, with Rahul taking a sharp catch at slip. Wiaan Mulder also fell to Kuldeep, miscuing a lofted shot to mid-off.
Late in the day, Siraj struck with the second new ball, dismissing Tony de Zorzi with Pant taking a brilliant diving catch at first slip. The dismissal gave India a timely lift before stumps.
Brief scores: South Africa 247/6 in 81.5 overs (Tristan Stubbs 49, Temba Bavuma 41; Kuldeep Yadav 3-48, Ravindra Jadeja 1-30) vs India
