"South African batters are not reading Kuldeep" - Former India star questions Proteas batters’ technique against spin in IND vs SA 2025 Tests

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned South Africa’s batters’ technique against spin. His remarks came after Day 1 play (Saturday, November 22) of the second Test in Guwahati. Opting to bat first, the Proteas ended the day at 247/6 after 81.5 overs, with Senuran Muthusamy (25) and Kyle Verreynne (1) at the crease.

For India, Kuldeep Yadav was the standout bowler, returning figures of 3/48 in 17 overs. During a discussion on his YouTube channel, Ashwin pointed out that the Proteas batters were struggling to read Kuldeep, highlighting Tristan Stubbs’ approach against the wrist spinner on Day 1. Ashwin said:

“South African batters are not reading Kuldeep. They are trying to play him off the pitch. The way Tristan Stubbs batted, he was searching for the ball, played a defensive shot, and then thought that if the ball comes in, he will be bowled or it might be a googly, he could get beaten, so cover both sides and that's how he got out.” “And Siraj’s last wicket, Tony de Zorzi’s, was a big wicket. Because if South Africa had finished at 260 for five, they would still have harbored hopes of one of the batsmen going on to make a big hundred. Till now, almost all South African batters have made 30s and 40s but haven’t capitalized. But you will see that when India gets in and starts batting well, one of their batsmen will go on to make a big score. So tomorrow, in the first session, India will also look to wrap them up, not give them a partnership. At the same time, South Africa cannot think 300-320 is a good score, they will have to go beyond that,” he added.

Meanwhile, apart from Kuldeep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja claimed one wicket each.

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“It was India’s day” - R Ashwin highlights hosts’s strong start against South Africa in Guwahati

In the same video, Ravichandran Ashwin observed that Day 1 of the Guwahati Test belonged to the hosts, noting that South Africa will need a big first-innings total. He said:

“It was India’s day. I don’t think it was South Africa’s day. South Africa batted the way they did in Kolkata. Maybe they were thinking the wickets are tough and will break. But this is winter in Guwahati, and in my opinion, these wickets won’t break much. They might start breaking a little bit more, but as long as there is moisture in the air, that will not allow the wicket to break much. There will be some assistance for fast bowlers, but it will start getting better from tomorrow onwards to bat.” “So South Africa going in one-seamer light again. Muthusamy’s batting might benefit them, but they have gone in one-seamer light. Anything, if South Africa don’t bat another session or two, in my view, they have to make a big first-innings score. That big first-innings score is 450, just 200 runs out. I think India is slightly, not slightly, India is ahead in this game,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Proteas lead 1-0 in the two-match series, having secured a 30-run victory in the Kolkata Test.

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Edited by Dev Sharma