South Africa delivered a resounding performance against India at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, securing a staggering 408-run win in the second Test and sweeping the series 2-0. With this victory, the Proteas leap to second place in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 standings, having amassed 36 points from three wins and a single loss, maintaining a 75% win percentage.
India, on the other hand, slipped down to fifth position, falling behind Pakistan after consecutive defeats. The Men in Blue now have a record of four wins, four losses, and one draw in nine matches, accumulating 52 points with a 48.15% win ratio. Australia remains unbeaten at the top of the table, boasting a perfect 100% win rate with four victories from as many matches. Sri Lanka occupies third place with 16 points from one win and one draw, while Pakistan holds fourth with a win and a loss, totaling 12 points.
Electing to bat first, South Africa posted a massive total of 489 runs over 151.1 overs. A standout performance came from Senuran Muthusamy, who scored a brilliant 109 off 206 balls, decorated with 10 fours and two sixes from the lower order. Marco Jansen also impressed with a rapid 93-run knock off just 91 balls, hitting six boundaries and seven maximums.
For India, Kuldeep Yadav was the most successful bowler in the innings, picking up 4 wickets for 115 runs in 29.1 overs. Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah contributed two wickets each, trying to contain the South African onslaught.
In response, India struggled against South Africa’s pace and spin attack, being bowled out for 201 and conceding a massive first-innings lead of 288 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal top-scored for India with 58 from 97 balls, supported by Washington Sundar’s 48. Marco Jansen was particularly devastating, running through the top order to finish with six wickets for 48 runs in under 20 overs, while Harmer added three more scalps.
Opting against enforcing the follow-on, South Africa batted again and declared at 260 for 5 in 78.3 overs, setting India a daunting target of 549 runs. Tristan Stubbs narrowly missed a century, scoring 94 off 180 balls, while Tony de Zorzi contributed 49. Lower-order batsmen Wiaan Mulder and Ryan Rickelton chipped in with 35 runs each. Jadeja bowled valiantly for India, claiming four wickets, and Sundar picked up one.
Chasing the enormous target, India collapsed spectacularly for 140 runs in 63.5 overs. Jadeja once again top-scored with a resilient 54 off 87 balls, but no other batter was able to provide meaningful resistance. Harmer delivered a sensational performance, decimating India’s lineup with figures of 6 for 37 in 23 overs. Keshav Maharaj claimed two wickets, while Jansen and Muthusamy picked up one wicket apiece, completing South Africa’s dominant match haul.
With this emphatic win on Indian soil, South Africa not only sealed the series 2-0 but also sent a strong message about their growing prowess in Test cricket, demonstrating depth in batting, lethal pace, and disciplined bowling. The victory boosts their confidence and positions them as serious contenders in the ongoing World Test Championship, while India faces urgent questions about consistency and resilience in the longest format of the game.