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India and South Africa resumed their fierce rivalry in the 2nd Test of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on November 22, 2025. With both sides keen on securing crucial points, South Africa strengthened their grip as their lower middle order frustrated the Indian bowling attack, pushing the visitors towards a formidable first-innings score.
Rishabh Pant’s outburst on Kuldeep Yadav on Day 2 of Guwahati Test
Tensions mounted for the Indian team on Day 2 as captain Rishabh Pant took charge behind the stumps, leading a side under pressure as South Africa’s batters dominated. Frustration boiled over when Kuldeep Yadav, one of India’s frontline spinners, was warned twice for delaying the start of a new over—a direct violation of the ICC’s recently introduced stop clock regulation for Test cricket. The enforcement of this timing rule has become particularly crucial in the WTC, with umpires empowered to issue warnings and penalize teams by awarding five runs to the opposition for repeated infractions.
Pant’s irritation became evident on the stump mic, where he could be heard chastising Kuldeep, urging him to bowl without delay and expressing his disappointment toward casual fielding. “Mazak bana rakha hai,” Pant snapped, voicing concern that procedural lapses were undermining the spirit and professionalism of Test cricket. The outburst also reflected the mounting pressure on Pant as the stand-in skipper trying to keep his squad focused amid South Africa’s imposing batting display.
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South Africa’s lower order takes charge against India in 2nd Test
While Pant’s fiery intervention highlighted India’s internal struggles, South Africa continued to amass runs with remarkable resilience. Senuran Muthusamy played a disciplined innings to reach his maiden Test century, and Marco Jansen’s aggressive strokeplay complemented South Africa’s strategy, propelling them to 428 for seven at lunch. The pair’s eighth-wicket partnership demonstrated patience and power, as Jansen dispatched Indian spinners Kuldeep and Ravindra Jadeja for several sixes in a vital stand of 94. Their ability to see off a wicketless morning session further deflated the Indian attack.
Despite Jasprit Bumrah’s relentless effort and occasional reverse swing, India’s bowlers struggled to break partnerships, with spinners failing to make a sustained impact. Kuldeep ended with expensive figures after 28 overs, further compounding the team’s difficulties.
The ICC’s stop clock rule, implemented in Tests since early 2025, is designed to maintain the pace of play and deter slow over rates. Teams are now required to start a new over within 60 seconds, or face warnings and potential penalties. For India, the inability to adhere to this regulation twice in a crucial session not only risked a five-run penalty but also exposed communication breakdowns within the squad.
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