Day 3 of the second Test between India and South Africa in Guwahati turned into a day of rare milestones and statistical landmarks, driven largely by Marco Jansen’s outstanding performance with the ball and Aiden Markram’s brilliance in the field. South Africa ended the day 26/0 in their second innings, stretching their lead to a commanding 314 runs, but the day belonged to a series of records that illuminated a dominant Proteas display.
Marco Jansen’s five-wicket haul enters elite company
Marco Jansen became only the third left-arm fast bowler to claim a Test five-for in India since 1988, joining:
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Zaheer Khan (three times)
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Mitchell Johnson (Mohali, 2010)
His 6/48 in Guwahati is also among the best figures by a left-arm quick in India.
Best returns for left-arm quicks in India
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7/46 – John Lever (ENG), Delhi, 1976
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7/67 – Geoff Dymock (AUS), Kanpur, 1979
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7/93 – Alan Davidson (AUS), Kanpur, 1959
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6/48 – Marco Jansen (SA), Guwahati, 2025
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5/31 – Alan Davidson (AUS), Kanpur, 1959
All five belong to visiting bowlers.
Jansen also joined a rare club of visiting players to claim a five-for and score 50+ in a Test in India since 2000:
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Nicky Boje (SA), Bengaluru 2000
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Jason Holder (WI), Hyderabad 2008
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Marco Jansen (SA), Guwahati 2025
Aiden Markram equals a world fielding record
Aiden Markram claimed five catches in India’s first innings — a joint all-time record in Tests, achieved only 16 times in history.
Among South Africans, only Graeme Smith (vs Australia, WACA, 2012) had previously taken five.
Markram’s sharp work in the cordon was central to South Africa dismissing India cheaply and building a first-innings lead that now threatens to decide the Test.
Breakdown of Jansen’s spell by length
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Full: 0/5 off 24 balls — False shot%: 20%
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Good length: 0/24 off 52 balls — False shot%: 11.5%
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Short: 6/19 off 62 balls — False shot%: 26.2%
His mastery of the short ball was evident, generating nearly all his wickets from hostile, climbing deliveries.
Historic feats for South African pacers
SA quicks with five-fors in India
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8/64 – Lance Klusener, Kolkata 1996
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7/51 – Dale Steyn, Nagpur 2010
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6/48 – Marco Jansen, Guwahati 2025
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5/23 – Dale Steyn, Ahmedabad 2008
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5/40 – Kyle Abbott, Delhi 2015
Jansen now joins elite South African company — another reminder of how rare impactful fast-bowling spells are on Indian soil.
India’s missed follow-on: another record surfaces
South Africa chose not to enforce the follow-on despite taking a 288-run first-innings lead.
This is the second-highest first-innings lead in Tests in India without enforcing a follow-on.
Only one instance is higher:
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299 – India vs Bangladesh, Hyderabad 2017
Stumps: South Africa extend lead to 314
At close of play, South Africa reached:
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26/0 (8 overs)
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Ryan Rickelton: 13*
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Aiden Markram: 12*
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Indian bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav went wicketless in their short spells.
With a massive lead and two days left, South Africa hold complete control of the match, while India face a steep uphill challenge to force a turnaround.
