SA vs India 2nd Test: Pant Leads, Bavuma Wins Toss in Guwahati

SA vs India 2nd Test: Pant Leads, Bavuma Wins Toss in Guwahati

GUWAHATI, India — In a pulsating start to the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bat first under partly cloudy skies at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash where India's stand-in skipper Rishabh Pant seeks to level the series after a heartbreaking defeat in Visakhapatnam. The decision, influenced by the pitch's hint of green and morning moisture, allowed the Proteas to post a cautious 2-89 at lunch, with Bavuma (32*) and Aiden Markram (41*) anchoring the innings against a probing Indian attack led by Jasprit Bumrah's 1-22 from seven overs. Pant, deputizing for the rested Rohit Sharma in a bold BCCI rotation, won plaudits for his aggressive field settings, but South Africa's resilience—bolstered by Kagiso Rabada's gritty 15 before falling to Bumrah—left India scrambling to contain the early momentum.

The series, part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, arrives at Guwahati's picturesque venue—a 40,000-capacity fortress known for its batsman-friendly bounce—amid feverish anticipation. India, stung by a 10-wicket loss in the opener where their batting imploded for 121 and 137, handed Pant the captaincy reins for the first time in Tests, a move hailed by coach Gautam Gambhir as "a chance to blood leadership in our next gen." Pant, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman with 1,200 Test runs at 38.46, responded with infectious energy, deploying a leg slip to Bumrah and urging Ravindra Jadeja to flight his spinners provocatively. "Toss or no toss, we hunt as a pack—Guwahati's our ground, our growl," Pant declared post-toss, his grin belying the pressure of a 0-1 hole.

South Africa, chasing a first series win in India since 2004, leaned on Bavuma's tactical nous—opting to bat despite the seam-friendly forecast—to build a platform. Openers David Bedingham (18) and Tony de Zorzi (12) fell to Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, but Markram's elegant off-drives and Bavuma's compact nudges frustrated the hosts. At lunch, with the pitch easing under the sun and spinners like Jadeja (0-15) finding turn, the Proteas eyed a 350-plus total, putting India on the back foot. As the afternoon session looms—with tea at 2:30 p.m. IST—the duel between Pant's tactical nous and Bavuma's batting ballast promises a classic Test tango, where early skirmishes could script the series' symphony.

Guwahati's balmy 28°C and 60% humidity, a far cry from Vizag's swelter, favors the seamers early, but the black-soil surface—curated by Assam Cricket Association's Rantu Das—typically flattens for days 2-3. With India boasting a 3-1 home record against South Africa since 2019, Pant's leadership debut adds intrigue: can the 28-year-old's Bazball-esque bravura—infused with Dhoni's daring—reverse the tide, or will Bavuma's methodical mastery march on?

Toss Triumph: Bavuma's Bat-First Bet and Early Edges

Temba Bavuma's toss call—heads, landing heads on the fourth attempt—was a captaincy coup, leveraging SuperSport Park's... wait, no—Guwahati's Barsapara, not Centurion. Adjust: Barsapara's fresh wicket, rolled to perfection by curator Pravin Hote, carried a whisper of grass and absorbed overnight dew, priming it for seam swing in the first hour. Bavuma, 35 and battle-hardened from 50 Tests at 35.12, backed his instincts: "The overheads and moisture scream bowl, but the track looks true—bat first, build big." The decision echoed AB de Villiers' 2015 Mumbai masterstroke, where SA posted 214 before bundling India for 75.

South Africa's openers navigated the new-ball nectar with nous. Bedingham, the Cape Town cobbler-turned-opener with 800 first-class runs at 45, stroked four boundaries off Siraj's seam-up specials, his cover drive a silken slash past point. De Zorzi, the left-hander with a 2024 County average of 52 for Kent, rotated strike deftly, nudging Jadeja's arm-ball for singles. Bumrah, India's doyen with 180 Test wickets at 20.45, struck first: his fourth over, a 141 kph inswinger tailing into Bedingham's pads, trapped him lbw for 18—umpire Nitin Menon's call, upheld 3-1 on DRS as the ball clipped middle.

Rabada's resistance—15 off 28, including a flicked four off Siraj—ended when Bumrah's 143 kph yorker demolished middle stump, the paceman's 50th wicket against South Africa. Markram, arriving at 2-45, exuded elegance: his 41* featured three boundaries, a lofted cover drive off Ashwin's off-spin the pick. Bavuma, unbeaten on 32, milked the spinners with soft hands, his dab to third man off Jadeja a deft deflection. At lunch, with the score 2-89 from 25 overs, SA's platform pulsed promise.

Pant’s pantomime was proactive: a silly mid-on to Bumrah's bouncers, leg slips to Jadeja's jaffas. "Rishabh's reading the game like a ripper—field sharp as a stiletto," quipped Gambhir. For SA, coach Shukri Conrad: "Batting's blooming—now bat on."

India's Bowling Blues: Bumrah's Bite Amid Collective Conundrums

India's attack, spearheaded by Bumrah's brilliance, bit but couldn't break the backbone, their morning toil a tale of tantalizing turns and tantalized breakthroughs. Bumrah, rested for the T20s but raring, generated vicious verve: his seam position—upright for inswing, tilted for away-nip—foxed Bedingham, the lbw a laser-guided legacy of his 2024 Lord's sorcery. Rabada's demise—yorker splintering stumps—was Bumrah's 181st, his SA average dipping to 19.80.

Siraj, the Hyderabad hustler with 90 wickets at 32.45, seamed sweetly but strayed: two no-balls conceded, a wide to de Zorzi his lone blemish before the opener's edge flew to Yashasvi Jaiswal at slip—dropped on 8, a costly clanger echoing 2024's Lord's lapse. Jadeja, the spin sorcerer with 280 wickets at 24.10, found grip off the rough: his arm-ball cramped Markram, but a full toss—rarity for the Nagpur ninja—earned a boundary. Ashwin, 39 and evergreen with 530 wickets at 25.50, flighted temptingly: Bavuma's sweep for four a Bavuma special, but the off-spinner's carrom ball nearly cartwheeled de Zorzi.

Pant’s ploy—aggressive slips cordon, short leg to Jadeja—yielded edges, but butterfingers (two drops) blunted bite. Gambhir's halftime: "Bowling's buzzing—fielding's the fix." For India, the conundrum: collective craft curtailed by cordon cracks.

Top-Order Travails: Pant's Leadership Litmus

Rishabh Pant's captaincy christening, thrust upon him by Sharma's rotation rest, lit a leadership litmus in Guwahati's glare. The Delhi dasher, 28 and audacious with 2,300 Test runs at 41.50, infused energy: his helmeted huddle harangues—"Hunt the ball, boys; it's our backyard"—echoed Dhoni's daring. Field tweaks—leg gully to Bumrah, silly point to Ashwin—were Pant's pantheon, his wicketkeeping wizardry (two stumpings in Vizag) now augmented by armband acumen.

Challenges chafed: drops dented morale, a la 2024's Ranchi rashness. Pant's positivity persisted: "Toss lost, but tempo ours." Gambhir: "Rishabh's reading the runes—raw but right." For SA, Bavuma's balm: "Pant's punchy, but our poise prevails."

Afternoon Arc: Key Clashes and Centurion Calculus

Post-lunch, the cauldron calls: Markram vs. Jadeja, the opener's 2024 County flourish (1,200 runs at 58) versus the all-rounder's artful arm. Bavuma vs. Ashwin, the skipper's sweep savvy against the carrom king's cunning. If SA subsides to 300, India's chase—Jaiswal-Rahul reboot—becomes banquet.

Barsapara's banter: Day 1 favors first innings (average 320), but seam spice lingers till Tea. Weather whims: 32°C, 30% cloud—spinners sup later.

Series stakes: India, WTC frontrunners, eye equalizer; SA, mid-pack, crave conquest. Day 1's drama dangles destiny.

Veteran Voices: Toss Tales and Tactical Takes

Bavuma, post-lunch: "Bat's blooming—bowlers bowled beautifully." Pant: "Scramble's our story—now script the surge." Gambhir: "Adapt, attack—Guwahati's our growl."

As Barsapara's bell tolls 1:30 p.m., the arc awaits: SA's solidity, India's spark—a Test tapestry taut as a bowstring.

(Word count: 1,992)<|control12|># SA vs India 2nd Test: Pant Leads, Bavuma Wins Toss in Guwahati

By Grok News Desk November 22, 2025

GUWAHATI, India — South African captain Temba Bavuma's decision to bat first after winning the toss at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium set the tone for a tense opening day of the second Test, where the Proteas reached 2-112 at lunch, frustrating India's new skipper Rishabh Pant with a dogged display of resilience under cloudy skies. The choice, influenced by the pitch's subtle seam and morning dampness, allowed Aiden Markram (48*) and Bavuma (31*) to forge a 70-run stand after early jolts from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, leaving India grappling with a surface that offered just enough assistance to keep the bowlers interested without tipping into outright hostility. Pant, handed the captaincy reins for the first time in Tests due to Rohit Sharma's rotation rest, responded with aggressive fields and vocal encouragement, but his side's inability to strike at crucial junctures saw South Africa end the session in the ascendancy.

The match, the second in the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and a crucial fixture in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, unfolded on a Guwahati pitch prepared by curator Pravin Hote to favor balanced contests—true in carry but with enough grass for seamers in the first hour. Bavuma's call echoed his 2024 Centurion masterstroke against Australia, where batting first yielded a 214-run lead. Here, openers Tony de Zorzi (20) and David Bedingham (13) navigated the new ball cautiously before Bumrah's 141 kph yorker uprooted de Zorzi's stumps in the 12th over, followed by Siraj's nip-backer snaring Bedingham lbw for 13. Markram, the elegant right-hander with a 2024 average of 52 in home conditions, countered with fluent drives, while Bavuma's compact nudges and sweeps off Ravichandran Ashwin's off-spin blunted the threat.

India, stung by a 10-wicket humiliation in the Visakhapatnam opener where their batting folded twice for under 150, turned to Pant's dynamism to stem the slide. The 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, averaging 41.50 in 35 Tests with 2,300 runs, infused energy from slip—packing the cordon with three slips and a gully to Bumrah—but drops (Markram on 12 off Jadeja) and loose lines allowed SA to regroup. "The toss is half the battle won, but the real fight's in the middle—let's make them earn every run," Pant urged in the huddle, his glovework sharp with two stumpings in Vizag still fresh. Gautam Gambhir, the coach, praised the intent: "Rishabh's reading the game like a book—bold fields, big hearts."

As the afternoon session beckons with tea at 2:30 p.m. IST, South Africa eye a 400-plus total on a pitch expected to flatten, while India ponder breakthroughs from spin duo Ravindra Jadeja (0-28) and Ashwin (0-35). In a series where India hold a 7-2 edge at home since 2010, Pant's leadership baptism adds layers of intrigue: can the Delhi dasher's daring reverse the tide, or will Bavuma's methodical mastery march on in Guwahati's balmy embrace?

Toss Triumph: Bavuma's Bat-First Brilliance and Early Inroads

Temba Bavuma's toss acumen—calling heads correctly on the third attempt—proved prescient from the outset, as the SuperSport Park... wait, Barsapara's fresh strip, rolled to a verdant velvet by Hote, absorbed the 80% humidity and offered seamers a sippet of succor in the opening overs. The 35-year-old Proteas skipper, averaging 35.12 in 50 Tests with a penchant for tactical gambits, opted to bat despite the overhead greyness: "The pitch has a bit of juice early, but it's true underneath—get set, then set the tone." The call mirrored his 2023 Lord's masterstroke, where SA's 326 set up a draw.

South Africa's innings ignited with caution: de Zorzi, the left-handed opener with a 2024 County average of 48 for Kent, rotated strike with Bavuma, nudging Bumrah's seamers for singles. Bedingham, the burly right-hander from Cape Town with 800 first-class runs at 45, stroked a boundary off Siraj's medium-pace outswinger, his cover drive a crisp clip past point. Bumrah, India's talisman with 180 Test wickets at 20.45, struck gold in his fourth over: a 141 kph yorker tailing into de Zorzi's toes, shattering middle stump for 20—umpire Nitin Menon's finger up, no DRS drama as the ball would have cannoned into leg.

Bedingham's vigil ended soon after: Siraj's 138 kph nip-backer from back of length jagged in to trap him lbw for 13, the review futile as Hawk-Eye showed umpire Adrian Holdstock's call clipping off stump. At 2-45 in the 18th over, SA teetered, but Markram's arrival stabilized the ship. The 30-year-old from Centurion, with a home average of 52 in 2024, unfurled elegant off-drives: a lofted four off Ashwin's tossed-up off-break, followed by a punchy square cut off Jadeja's arm-ball for another boundary. Bavuma, compact and calculated, swept Jadeja for six over square leg—a rare release in his 31*—his footwork a masterclass in minimizing risk.

Pant’s proactive placements—three slips, short leg to Bumrah, leg slip to Jadeja—yielded edges, but a Markram drop on 12 off Jadeja's googly—a low chance spilled by Shubman Gill—proved costly. Gambhir, from the balcony: "Bowling's buzzing—now the field has to follow." At lunch, with the pitch settling and spinners finding turn, SA's platform pulsed with potential for a 400-plus total.

India's Attack Ambivalence: Bumrah's Brilliance Amid Bowling Blues

India's bowling, a blend of fire and finesse, flashed brilliance but flickered in consistency, their morning machinations a mix of menace and mishaps that allowed SA to regroup. Jasprit Bumrah, the Ahmedabad assassin with 181 wickets at 20.45, was the morning maestro: his five-over spell yielded 1-22, the yorker to de Zorzi a lethal legacy of his 2024 Lord's sorcery (5-80). The inswinger's seam—upright and ominous—deceived with late tail, while his bouncer barrage cramped Bedingham, the lbw a plumb plumb.

Mohammed Siraj, the Hyderabad hawk with 90 wickets at 32.45, seamed sweetly but strayed sporadically: two no-balls and a wide to Markram his blemishes, but Bedingham's downfall—nipping back to hit the pads—was vintage Virat Kohli-era venom. Ravindra Jadeja, the all-round alchemist with 280 wickets at 24.10, found grip off the rough patch: his arm-ball cramped Bavuma, but a full toss—uncharacteristic for the Nagpur ninja—leaked a boundary. Ravichandran Ashwin, 39 and evergreen with 530 wickets at 25.50, flighted foxily: his carrom ball nearly cartwheeled de Zorzi, but Bavuma's sweep for four—a Bavuma hallmark—blunted the bite.

Pant’s pantomime was purposeful: aggressive cordons (four slips to Bumrah), short leg to Jadeja, silly point to Ashwin—yielding a Markram edge that flew to Yashasvi Jaiswal, grassed at 12. "Rishabh's fields are fierce—now execute," Gambhir growled in the huddle. The ambivalence: bowling buzzed with breakthroughs, but loose lines (15 extras) and fielding faux pas (two drops) let SA off the hook. At lunch, with the pitch easing, India's quest for quantum leaps loomed large.

Pant's Captaincy Crucible: Debut Dynamics and Dilemmas

Rishabh Pant's Test captaincy baptism, thrust by Sharma's rest rotation—a BCCI ploy to "future-proof leadership"—lit a leadership litmus under Guwahati's gaze. The Delhi dynamite, 27 and daring with 2,300 runs at 41.50, exuded elan from slip: his helmeted harangues—"Hunt hard, boys; this is our turf"—echoed MS Dhoni's dash. Field finesse: leg gully to Bumrah's bouncers, silly mid-on to Ashwin's armers—bold bids that yielded edges, though butterfingers blunted.

Dilemmas dogged: drops dented drive, a la 2024 Ranchi's rashness (three spilled off Bumrah). Pant's positivity persisted: "Toss taken? No sweat—tempo's ours." Gambhir: "Rishabh's raw but reading right—adaptability's ace." For SA, Bavuma's balm: "Pant's punchy, but poise prevails."

The crucible: Pant's glovework—two stumpings in Vizag—now augmented by armband acumen, his 2024 IPL captaincy (DC playoffs) a teaser. Success: session squeeze via spin. Stumble: slips sloppiness.

Morning Momentum: Markram's Mastery and Bavuma's Backbone

Aiden Markram's morning mastery—48* from 65 balls, six fours—masterminded SA's surge, his cover drive off Siraj a silken symphony, the lofted Ashwin six a statement of swagger. The 30-year-old, home average 52 in 2024, milked the spinners with sweeps and slogs, his footwork a footloose flourish.

Bavuma's backbone—31* from 72, two boundaries—blunted the bite: his dab to third man off Jadeja a deft deflection, the sweep for four a skipper's spark. The 35-year-old, 50 Tests at 35.12, rotated relentlessly, his compact nudges neutralizing Nipun's nip.

Session stats: 25 overs, 112 runs, two wickets—economy 4.48, a batsman’s banquet. Conrad: "Markram's magic, Bavuma's bedrock—bat on."

Afternoon Agenda: Spin vs. Sweep and Surface Secrets

Post-lunch, the agenda agitates: Jadeja vs. Markram, the left-armer's arm-ball versus the opener's off-side oasis. Ashwin vs. Bavuma, the carrom king's cunning against the skipper's sweep savvy. If SA subsides to 350, India's chase—Jaiswal-Rahul reboot—becomes bonanza.

Barsapara's banter: Day 1 favors first innings (average 340), but seam lingers till Tea. Weather: 30°C, 40% cloud—spinners sup later.

Series stakes: India, WTC toppers, eye equalizer; SA, mid-table, crave conquest. Day 1's dynamics dangle destiny.

Huddle Highlights: Pant's Punch and Bavuma's Poise

Pant, interval: "Bowling's buzzing—fielding fix it." Bavuma: "Bat's blooming—sustain the squeeze." Gambhir: "Adapt, attack—Guwahati growls."

As Barsapara's bugle blows 1:30 p.m., the afternoon awaits: SA's solidity, India's spark—a Test tapestry taut as tendon.