New Delhi, Nov 23 (NationPress) Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble emphasizes that for India to have any hope of survival in the second Test at Guwahati, they must bat continuously for the next two days. After South Africa’s innings, featuring Senuran Muthusamy who scored his maiden Test century (109) and Marco Jansen with a notable 93, the visitors amassed 489 runs, leaving India trailing at 9/0 at the end of Day 2, needing to make up 480 runs.

Kumble noted that even though the pitch will continue to be 'good for batting,' the Indian team must exhibit discipline and patience.

“I certainly anticipate some wear and tear, and I believe the spinners will become influential tomorrow. Nevertheless, it will still be a favorable surface for batting—runs won’t be difficult to achieve. For India, this is an essential Test to win. They’ve endured six challenging sessions and will be focused on batting through the next two days. If they can manage the third and fourth days effectively, they will put themselves in a position to consider the second innings,” Kumble stated during an interview with JioStar after Sunday’s play.

Kumble also evaluated Yashasvi Jaiswal’s tasks as they approach Day 3, mentioning, “Jaiswal has a role to play, but not immediately. He needs to acclimatize to the conditions… If he can survive the first 30–45 minutes and handle Jansen’s early spell, we can expect to see the confident version of Jaiswal we are familiar with. He will certainly aim to challenge the spinners.”

India's bowlers made a promising start earlier in the day, yet they failed to disrupt the Muthusamy-Jansen partnership. Bumrah, Siraj, and Jadeja each took two wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav concluded with four. With seven sixes, Jansen matched the record for the highest number of sixes by a lower-order batter in India. With South Africa achieving a score surpassing any first-innings total to lose a Test in India, they are well-positioned to aim for a rare series victory on Indian soil.

India began their response cautiously, with KL Rahul and Jaiswal fending off a challenging spell from Jansen and Wiaan Mulder before play was once again interrupted due to poor lighting.

Reflecting on Marco Jansen’s pivotal 93, Kumble remarked, “Marco Jansen completely shifted the momentum away from India… He clearly trusts his batting; he’s carrying more than four bats. He excelled against the spinners and confidently faced the short ball… It was an exceptional innings, and his partnership with Muthusamy ensured South Africa not only surpassed 400—they approached 500.”

South Africa's lower order significantly altered the game's dynamics, while Dale Steyn indicated that India lacked tactical adaptability with their bowling. “They adhered to Plan A for too long and failed to implement a Plan B or C… On a flatter pitch like this, a different strategy was necessary,” the former Protea stated, adding that India’s defensive fielding allowed South Africa to settle too comfortably.