South Africa tightened their stranglehold on the second Test — and the series — on Day 4 at the Baraspara Cricket Stadium, stretching their overall lead to nearly 400 by the Tea break. India briefly sparked hope when Ravindra Jadeja struck twice in quick succession, but that window closed just as quickly as Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs rebuilt with calm assurance. The duo countered India’s three-pronged spin attack with a barrage of sweeps and reverse-sweeps, steadily guiding the Proteas back to complete control of the contest.
Kuldeep Yadav once again found himself under pressure. Much like the first innings, he became the bowler South Africa targeted most freely, conceding runs at a brisk pace that frustrated his captain, Rishabh Pant. His pauses between deliveries grew longer with each over, seemingly a response to the punishment he was receiving. But those delays only added a new layer of concern for India.
Under ICC regulations, a fielding side is allowed exactly one minute between the final ball of an over and the first ball of the next. A bowler who causes three such delays triggers a five-run penalty against his own team — and while the count resets every 80 overs, the threat still looms large. In the first innings, Kuldeep had already collected two warnings in quick time, pushing India dangerously close to a penalty before Pant’s constant reminders helped avoid further trouble.
That pattern resurfaced on the fourth day when Kuldeep was reintroduced into the attack in the 39th over. Almost immediately, Pant’s voice became a regular feature on the stump mic as he kept nudging his spinner to pick up the pace. Each delay forced Pant into sharper tones, his concern growing with the match slipping further away from India.
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By the time the 48th over began, Pant’s patience had clearly worn thin. As Kuldeep lingered yet again before delivering the first ball, Pant snapped — his words carrying a mix of irritation and urgency. “Pehla ball toh daal de yaar,” he shouted, practically pleading for momentum. He followed it up with a firm warning that he wouldn’t keep repeating himself.
Despite the tension, South Africa remained unbothered at the crease. De Zorzi and Stubbs continued milking the spinners, stretching the lead and draining India’s already-strained energy. As Tea arrived, the Proteas looked well on their way to sealing not just the Test, but the entire series, with India scrambling for breakthroughs — and composure — in equal measure.