South Africa handed India a humiliating 408-run defeat in Guwahati, completing a 2-0 clean sweep and delivering one of their most dominant Test performances in recent years. The loss marks India’s second consecutive home Test series defeat — something that hasn’t happened in over four decades.
Resuming at 90/5 on the final day and needing an improbable 459 more runs, India collapsed for 140 despite a fighting 54 from Ravindra Jadeja. The uneven, turning red-soil pitch offered little respite as South Africa’s spinners and seamers maintained relentless pressure.
South Africa had earlier taken complete control by posting 489 in the first innings, courtesy of a crucial lower-order partnership between Senuran Muthusamy and Marco Jansen. They later declared at 260/5 in the second innings, ensuring India were batted out of the contest.
India’s first-innings reply — 201 all out — exposed their struggles, with Jansen dismantling the middle order with steep bounce and accuracy.
On the final day, India’s hopes faded quickly. Muthusamy removed Sai Sudharsan (14), while Simon Harmer dominated with a superb five-wicket haul, removing Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy to tighten the noose. Keshav Maharaj stumped Jadeja after his valiant fifty and sealed the match with the final wicket — Siraj caught brilliantly by Jansen.
This 408-run victory is South Africa’s second-biggest Test win by runs, behind their 492-run rout of Australia in 2018. It is also their second Test series triumph in India, the last coming in 2000. Captain Temba Bavuma becomes only the second South African skipper after Hansie Cronje to win a series on Indian soil.
For India, the defeat is part of a worrying trend. After a 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand last year, this 0-2 result deepens concerns over India's red-ball dominance slipping at home. The last time India lost home Test series in consecutive years was back in the early 1980s against the West Indies (1983) and England (1984–85).
With a commanding 2–0 sweep, South Africa leave India with renewed belief, having outplayed the hosts in all facets of the game.
