South Africa stand on the brink of a historic triumph in India after another day of complete control in the Guwahati Test. Their lead sits at a massive 522, and with India stumbling to 27 for 2 by stumps, the visitors need only eight more wickets on the final day to seal a 2-0 sweep—something no touring side has accomplished in India since the early 2000s.

This Test has tilted steadily in South Africa’s favour. Their batters first piled up 489, then added another 260 for 5 before declaring late on the fourth afternoon. Tristan Stubbs played with authority once again, rising to 94 before missing out on a maiden international century. His form, paired with South Africa’s clarity of purpose, gave them full control of the match narrative.

But the real damage came with the ball. Marco Jansen’s short-ball barrage and Simon Harmer’s masterful drift and dip turned a seemingly benign surface into a nightmare for India. Jaiswal fell cutting. Rahul fell groping. India survived the final half-hour only because luck briefly joined them.

With fading evening light and unpredictable turn ahead, South Africa enter day five poised to complete a famous series victory—one that signals a new era in their Test cricket.

Jansen’s Hostile Spell Breaks India’s Resistance Early

Marco Jansen wasted no time in showing India how difficult the chase would be. He didn’t search for movement or seam. Instead, he hit the pitch hard, extracting uncomfortable bounce from lengths that earlier seemed harmless. Yashasvi Jaiswal was tested from the first over, fending awkwardly at deliveries climbing toward his helmet.

The left-arm quick targeted Jaiswal’s strength—his favoured cut shot—and turned it into a trap. Jaiswal has scored heavily through that stroke in his short career, yet he has also fallen repeatedly to it. Jansen exploited that flaw ruthlessly. When Jaiswal attempted another cut, he misjudged the bounce and feathered a catch.

This was South Africa’s plan executed perfectly: use aggression early, remove India’s tempo-setting opener, and force the middle order into defensive mode. Jansen now has emerged as a complete all-format fast bowler—one who uses height, pace, and sharpness as an integrated weapon. His spell set the tone for the collapse India must now avoid on day five.

Harmer Continues Dream Series With Magical Offbreak

Simon Harmer has been the standout spinner of this tour, and his delivery to remove KL Rahul added another piece to his growing legacy. The ball dipped viciously, drifted away slightly, and turned sharply past Rahul’s drive. Rahul, who had shown admirable patience until then, was left stranded as his gate opened wide enough for the ball to crash into the stumps.

This was the kind of dismissal India’s own spinners used to produce at home. Harmer has dominated through flight, cunning, and old-fashioned overspin—qualities India have struggled to match in this series. He even came close to removing Sai Sudharsan on lbw, but umpire’s call offered the young left-hander a rare reprieve.

By stumps, Harmer remained tied with Jansen at 12 wickets for the series, an incredible effort against a team historically regarded as the toughest batting unit for visiting spinners.

Stubbs and de Zorzi Defy India With Controlled Sweeps

One of the key moments of the day came long before the new ball drama. Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi, calm and methodical, maneuvered India’s spinners with sweep and reverse-sweep variations. Their partnership of 101 frustrated India and neutralised the growing threat on a pitch slowly gripping and turning.

Stubbs scored 32 from his last 19 balls as he pushed for a century. Even though he fell six short, his innings was decisive in stretching the lead beyond India’s reach. De Zorzi missed his fifty by a single run, undone for once by a misread sweep. The pair collectively showed that attacking, not surviving, was the best route on this pitch.

Their partnership not only killed India’s hope of a manageable chase but also gave South Africa enough time to bowl long spells at India later in the day.

India’s Defensive Strategy Falls Apart at Crucial Moments

India’s biggest issue throughout this Test—and the entire series—has been the inability to take wickets through defensive shots. They create pressure, beat the bat often, yet fail to convert into breakthroughs. Jadeja bowled Markram with a beautiful turning ball, and Washington produced extra bounce to remove Bavuma, but these were isolated moments.

Every time India sensed momentum, South Africa rebuilt calmly. The sweep shot repeatedly neutralised India’s length. Pant’s missed stumping off Stubbs added to India’s frustration, especially with the lead already ballooning.
With the bat, India’s defensive approach also backfired. Rahul looked solid but eventually fell to a ball too good for the situation. Sudharsan survived through fortune rather than security. Jaiswal’s attacking instinct turned into a liability.

On a pitch growing unpredictable, India must now bat with near-perfection to avoid their second home whitewash in twelve months—a staggering statistic given their decade of dominance.

Day Five Looms as South Africa Chase Historic Series Sweep

India ended on 27 for 2, but the scoreboard tells only half the story. Edges flew, balls spat from cracks, dips beat the bat, and both Jansen and Harmer extracted life from a surface that looked flat mere hours earlier. The fading light even forced early stumps, adding another disadvantage to India as they get fewer overs at the cooler evening phase on day five.

South Africa, meanwhile, have six full hours to take eight wickets. With their combination of pace and quality spin, they enter the final day confident. A 2-0 sweep in India would mark one of their greatest overseas achievements—ending a 25-year wait for a series victory in challenging subcontinental conditions.

India, to avoid a disastrous whitewash, need grit, patience, and some luck. If the pitch behaves like it did late on day four, however, only one result seems likely.

Conclusion

The Guwahati Test has showcased South Africa’s planning, discipline, and ability to dominate in conditions historically unkind to touring teams. Stubbs’ maturity, Jansen’s hostility, and Harmer’s craft have defined this series. India now stand on the edge of an unwanted chapter in their home cricket history.

Day five will determine whether India salvage pride—or whether South Africa finish a once-unthinkable 2-0 sweep.