South Africa has clinched its first Test series win in India in 25 years with a crushing 408-run win in the second Test, claiming a 2-0 series sweep.
South Africa had set an improbable 549 runs for victory, after it scored 489 and 260-5 in two innings. India had folded for 201 runs in its first innings, conceding a 288-run lead.
Off-spinner Simon Harmer took a career-best 6-37 and India crashed to be 140 all out in its second innings to lose the match on the final day.
It is the first series win South Africa has had in India since Hansie Cronje led the Proteas in 2000-01.
India had lost three wickets in the morning session on Wednesday, and was 5-90 at tea.
Then, it lost a further five wickets in just over an hour in the second session, comprehensively beaten before lunch on day five.
It is a second home loss for India in consecutive seasons. New Zealand won 3-0 in October 2024, raising a serious question about India’s transitional phase in the red-ball format.
Harmer finished with 17 wickets in the two Tests, scripting a historic win for the Proteas. It was a first five-wicket haul on Indian soil for the off-spinner — he had previously had four four-wicket hauls there.
Stream End Game with Tony Armstrong on ABC iview
Aiden Markram supported him with nine catches in the match — the most ever for a fielder in a single Test in history.
“It’s a great feeling, a great effort by everyone to be fair,” Markram said.
“As a group, you’ve got to believe that you can compete against the best in their backyard and get into the battle and see where it gets you … bloody proud of the team.”
Ravindra Jadeja top-scored for India with 54 off 87 balls, including four fours and two sixes, even as the hosts missed skipper Shubman Gill. He suffered a neck injury in Kolkata and missed the second Test.
Temba Bavuma, meanwhile, has won 11 out of 12 tests for South Africa as skipper, including the 2025 World Test Championship final in June.
It was the first test played in Guwahati, and Barsapara Stadium was the 30th Test venue in India.
AP/Reuters
