Guwahati: “It’s massive. It’s not every day you imagine coming to India and winning 2-0. As a group we’ve had top days and we know how tough we can be. This is another incredible achievement for us.” These words from South African captain Temba Bavuma perfectly captured the mood as South Africa secured a historic 2-0 Test series win against India on home soil – a feat few teams have achieved in the last two decades.
Home fortress destroyed: India outclassed
Indian fans watched in disbelief as South Africa, the reigning World Test champions, won both Tests with dominant performances. The visitors began their campaign with a tough 30-run win in Kolkata before sealing the series in Guwahati with a stunning 408-run win – the largest margin by a foreign team to beat India in a Test, surpassing Australia’s long-standing record.
South Africa’s triumph in the series is their first on Indian soil since the 2000-01 season, breaking a 24-year drought and breaking India’s famous home record. So far, no team has managed to hand India such a heavy Test defeat in their own backyard.
Bowlers spin a web: Harmer and Jansen Shine
The fifth day in Guwahati turned into a nightmare for India’s batters. While India were chasing a monumental 549-point win, South Africa’s spinners were in turmoil. Simon Harmer proved unplayable, taking 6 for 37, while Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen contributed with crucial wickets. India collapsed to a total of 140, making the final day feel more like a procession than a contest.
Harmer’s Player of the Series award was well deserved. “To get over the finish line as a team and beat this Indian team is a monumental effort,” said Harmer. After returning to India after a decade, his six-wicket haul and control went a long way in keeping India’s star line-up in check.
Jansen, who scored 6 for 48 in the first innings, set the tone early on. His pace kept the Indian batters guessing and gave South Africa a whopping 314-run lead right from the start. This all-round bowling performance left Indian fans with little to cheer about as wickets tumbled on the Guwahati pitch.
Batting Collapse: India’s stars falter
India’s response to South Africa’s piles of runs was far from convincing. After losing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Lokesh Rahul cheaply on the fourth day, there was a stubborn but ultimately futile resistance on the fifth day. B Sai Sudharsan’s 14 off 139 balls reflected India’s defensive intent but he ultimately failed. Ravindra Jadeja’s fifty provided a glimmer of hope, but the mountain was just too steep and a draw became out of reach.
Rishabh Pant, who stepped in as captain, admitted: “It’s a little disappointing. As a team, we have to do better. We thank the competition for playing better than us.” He stressed that India needs to learn from missed opportunities and adapt quickly, especially when playing at home.
Proteas plan and team spirit
Bavuma emphasized adaptability, communication and the desire to contribute. He praised the group’s change in mindset: “There was a strong feeling that everyone can contribute on their day, even people coming off the bench like Muthusamy.” Their fighting spirit matched their clear planning; there were no outstanding centuries, but there were a parade of players who delivered decisive blows at crucial moments in the 60s and 70s.
The captain also highlighted the influence of Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj’s collaboration: “Simon has the experience of playing here in 2015… I appreciate the competition between the two spinners; Simon has been the man for us in this series.”
Jansen, who was named man of the match for his six-wicket performance, summed up the team’s approach: keep things simple, adapt to the conditions and support each other fully. He gave special praise to head coach Shukri Conrad, noting the freedom the players felt to express themselves.
Looking ahead
South Africa returns home with their heads held high and memories of a famous victory. India, meanwhile, needs to regroup and think ahead of its next challenge. At the moment, the cricket world stands in awe of Bavuma’s resurgent Proteas – champions who came, saw and conquered in India.
