Kuldeep Acknowledges Challenging Guwahati Pitch, Confident in India’s Winning Prospects

India faced a challenging day on the field as South Africa’s lower order nearly doubled their first-innings total during the second Test in Guwahati.

On Sunday, the Proteas added 242 runs for their last four wickets. Senuran Muthusamy achieved his first Test century, while Marco Jansen scored a career-best 93.

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav acknowledged the lack of support for the bowlers from the Guwahati pitch.

“It’s evident that the wicket here differs from Kolkata’s, which was more favorable,” Kuldeep humorously noted during the post-Day 2 media interaction.

“Yesterday, in the first session, there was some moisture on the pitch, giving me a bit of turn. Today, the conditions suited batting more. Turn was almost absent. [Ravindra] Jadeja and I have been discussing how ideal the wicket was for batting,” Kuldeep mentioned.

“We understood this wasn’t a track where dismissals would come easily. We had to maintain strict discipline with our bowling line and length. We gave our best, but it’s clear that Jansen and Muthusamy batted admirably. Overall, it was a formidable challenge for the bowlers due to the wicket’s nature,” added Kuldeep.

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The left-arm wrist spinner remains optimistic despite the conditions favoring the batters.

“It’s a challenge and that’s why it’s called Test cricket. Not every day will favor you. As a bowler, you constantly seek to dominate, but it’s also crucial how you recover on a good batting pitch. We performed well initially and maintained good control. However, one partnership put us on the back foot.

“Yet, this is Test cricket. It’s something to enjoy and learn from, helping you mature. Don’t overthink the wicket; just go out and play. You continually adapt to the conditions, and I’m positive that the next Test will provide more opportunities for the bowlers. I have no complaints,” Kuldeep assured.

With the home team aiming for a win to level the series, Kuldeep suggested that India needs to bat across five sessions to secure a strong position.

“We need to bat effectively tomorrow and then assess our position. Each session holds significance. We’ll tackle it session by session. Currently, we’re not focusing on day four or five. The goal is to bat well, and if we manage five sessions, we’ll be strategically positioned for our next move,” Kuldeep explained.

Published on Nov 23, 2025