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“Wanted India to grovel”: South Africa coach fires bold shot after dominant Day 4

Aakash Saini

South Africa coach and Indian players [Source: @ImTanujSingh, @CricCrazyJohns/x]South Africa coach and Indian players [Source: @ImTanujSingh, @CricCrazyJohns/x]

South Africa inflicted more pain and misery on hosts India on Day 4 of their series-deciding second Test match in Guwahati. Emboldened with a huge lead of 288 runs at the halfway stage on Day 3, the South Africans mounted 260-5d to set India a monumental target of 549.

Moreover, lanky paceman Marco Jansen and wily off-spinner Simon Harmer struck once each late in the day as India limped to stumps at 27-2, still 522 runs short and staring at the ominous prospect of a 0–2 whitewash.

South Africa coach explains aggressive mindset

While speaking during the post-day press conference, South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad admitted that he wanted his team to make India “really grovel”. Explaining South Africa’s aggressive mindset against hosts India at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Day 4, Conrad said:

“We wanted India to really grovel.”

Shukri Conrad’s prophecy might well have come true already, with India reduced to survival mode and a whitewash now looking less like a threat and more like an inevitability.

As the action panned out on Day 4, South Africa aggregated 260-5d in 78.3 overs to extend its lead to 548 runs. Number three batter Tristan Stubbs top-scored for the visitors with his 94-run knock from 180 balls. Tony de Zorzi (49 off 68) and Wiaan Mulder (35* off 69) also unleashed handy runs after the Proteas had slipped to 77-3 at one stage.

For India, senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja picked up four of the five fallen South Africa wickets to claim figures of 4-62.

Chasing 549 and left to survive the final hour of the day, India lost both openers, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal to reach a sluggish 27-2 by stumps from 15.5 overs. While Jansen toppled Jaiswal to bag his seventh wicket of the match, Harmer knocked over a struggling Rahul for just six in 30 balls.

Sai Sudharsan, batting at 2*, will now resume the Indian innings with night watchman Kuldeep Yadav (4*) on the final day.