South Africa registered a historic 408-run victory against India in the second Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. This remarkable achievement makes South Africa the first team to defeat India by a margin exceeding 400 runs. The emphatic result secured a 2–0 series sweep, marking one of the most decisive outcomes in Test cricket in recent years.
Chasing a formidable target of 549 runs, India collapsed to 140 on the final day. This defeat handed India their largest loss by runs in Test history, surpassing Australia’s previous record of a 342-run win in Nagpur. Additionally, this match marked India's second consecutive home series whitewash within a year, highlighting a significant decline in their typically dominant home record.
Before this downturn, India had only experienced two home series defeats from 2000 until their loss to New Zealand last year. Their recent back-to-back defeats echo setbacks last seen in 1883 and 1984–85. The latest series loss adds to earlier home defeats of 0–2 and 0–3 against South Africa in 2000 and New Zealand last year, respectively.
The victory is South Africa’s second-largest in Test cricket, following their 492-run triumph over Australia in 2018. Under the leadership of Temba Bavuma, the team has demonstrated remarkable consistency, winning 11 of their last 12 Tests without a single defeat. Their strong performance in Asia continues as they remain unbeaten across their last three subcontinental tours.
The 2–0 defeat pushes India further down the WTC 2025–27 standings, placing them below Pakistan, while Australia moves to the top. For South Africa, this milestone victory solidifies their status as major contenders as attention shifts to upcoming fixtures in the championship cycle.
Q1. What was the significance of South Africa's victory over India?
Answer: South Africa's 408-run victory over India is significant as it marks the largest defeat for India in Test history, highlighting a shift in cricket dynamics.
Q2. How has India's performance changed in home series recently?
Answer: India has faced two consecutive home series whitewashes, indicating a rare struggle in their traditionally strong home performance.
Q3. What impact does this loss have on India's World Test Championship standings?
Answer: The loss has pushed India down the World Test Championship standings, making it crucial for them to perform better in upcoming matches.
Q4. Who is leading South Africa's cricket team?
Answer: Temba Bavuma is leading South Africa's cricket team and has overseen significant success, winning 11 of their last 12 Tests.
Q5. When did South Africa last achieve a larger victory margin in Test cricket?
Answer: South Africa's last larger victory margin was 492 runs against Australia in 2018, making this recent win their second-largest.
Question 1: What was the margin of South Africa's victory over India in the second Test?
A) 300 runs
B) 400 runs
C) 408 runs
D) 500 runs
Correct Answer: C
Question 2: Who is the captain of the South African cricket team?
A) Faf du Plessis
B) Temba Bavuma
C) AB de Villiers
D) Quinton de Kock
Correct Answer: B
Question 3: How many Tests has South Africa won under Temba Bavuma's leadership?
A) 9
B) 11
C) 12
D) 15
Correct Answer: B
Question 4: What is India's largest defeat margin in Test history?
A) 300 runs
B) 342 runs
C) 408 runs
D) 400 runs
Correct Answer: C
Question 5: Which team has India faced back-to-back whitewashes from?
A) Australia
B) South Africa
C) England
D) New Zealand
Correct Answer: B
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