India vs South Africa 1st Test, Day 2 Live: India resumed their first-innings reply on Saturday morning at 61/1, with KL Rahul and Washington Sundar looking to build on the foundation laid late on Day 1. With South Africa bowled out for 159 on the opening day, India began the second morning trailing by 98 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Rahul Breaks Free After Slow Start
KL Rahul began Day 2 with caution but slowly opened up as the session progressed. After a long stretch of defensive play, Rahul finally found a boundary through a cut shot, though it came off an uneven bounce—an indication of the pitch’s unpredictable nature.
At 10:05 AM IST, India moved to 56/1, with Rahul on 26* and Sundar on 12*, narrowing the deficit to 103. Sundar has shown impressive composure at No. 3, continuing to settle into his unfamiliar role with maturity.
A Testing Morning for India’s Batters
Earlier in the morning, conditions proved tricky. The light roller used before play could not prevent the pitch from producing uneven bounce. Both batters adopted a conservative plan, choosing to preserve wickets rather than push the scoring rate.
Rahul looked briefly troubled after being struck on the arm by Marco Jansen, but he continued batting without major discomfort. At 09:48 AM IST, India were 46/1, trailing by 113.
Rahul Surpasses 4000 Test Runs
A milestone moment arrived when Rahul edged a ball to the boundary, taking him past 4000 Test runs. The Indian opener is now the highest run-getter in the current squad, a testament to his growth since taking over the opener’s role full-time.
At 09:36 AM IST, India reached 41/1, with Rahul on 17* and Sundar on 8*.
India Get Underway in Hazy Kolkata Morning
Play began under hazy skies, with Marco Jansen starting the attack for South Africa. Rahul and Sundar navigated the early movement well, pushing India to 37/1 by 09:31 AM IST.
Ahead of play, the Indian camp focused heavily on Rahul and Sundar, who were expected to set the tone for a strong batting day after negotiating a tough period on Day 1.
South Africa Reacts to Bumrah’s Comment on Bavuma
Off the field, South Africa’s batting coach Ashwell Prince addressed the stump-mic remark made by Jasprit Bumrah toward Proteas captain Temba Bavuma on Day 1. Some believed the comment targeted Bavuma’s height, but Prince dismissed any controversy, confirming that the team would not pursue the matter further.
“There will be no discussion. We don’t believe it was significant,” Prince said.
Rabada’s Injury a Major Blow for South Africa
South Africa are without their premier fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who was ruled out of the Test due to a rib injury. Team officials confirmed Rabada experienced discomfort during a fitness test and remains doubtful for the second Test as well.
His absence has placed extra pressure on the remaining South African bowlers to step up on a pitch that has already offered assistance to seamers and spinners.
Weather Update: Hazy Conditions, Early Stumps Possible
Saturday’s forecast calls for dry weather, but poor light remains a concern. Play ended early on Day 1 due to fading visibility, and with sunset expected at 4:53 PM, another early finish is possible.
Bumrah Shines on Day 1 with Fiery Five-Wicket Haul
Day 1 belonged entirely to Jasprit Bumrah, who delivered a masterclass in seam bowling. Returning to form after a patchy run against West Indies and Australia, Bumrah dismantled South Africa with figures of 5/39, becoming the first fast bowler since Dale Steyn (2006) to take a Day-1 five-for with the red ball in India.
Bumrah emphasized the importance of patience on the Eden Gardens surface, noting that trying to produce “magic balls” on every delivery often backfires. His disciplined bowling set the tone for India early.
Day 1 Recap: India Take Control After South Africa’s Collapse
South Africa began strongly but lost momentum once Bumrah entered the attack. Supported by uneven bounce and early reverse swing, Bumrah’s spell triggered a collapse from a promising start to 159 all out.
India’s chase saw an early surprise when Washington Sundar was promoted to No. 3 ahead of Gill and Iyer. Despite being new to the role in Tests, Sundar looked composed and justified the move with his calm technique.
South Africa’s bowlers, led by Marco Jansen, responded with discipline despite Rabada’s absence, ensuring India did not race away with the match.
What to Expect Next
With the pitch showing signs of variable bounce and India trailing by under 100 runs early on Day 2, the partnership between Rahul and Sundar could shape the outcome of the Test. A strong first innings will put India firmly in control, but South Africa will be eager to exploit the morning conditions and claw their way back into the game.
