South Africa’s tactical masterstroke in the Guwahati Test, a late declaration that aimed to push India to their limits, has been clarified by Head Coach Shukri Conrad. The Proteas intentionally prolonged their second innings, setting an imposing target of 548 and leaving India with a daunting task in the final 15.5 overs of Day 4. The underlying motive was to make the Indian batsmen work extensively in the field before their tough batting assignment.
Conrad candidly admitted the team’s desire to see the Indian players ‘really grovel,’ a phrase adopted to describe the strategy of maximizing their time on their feet. ‘We wanted the Indians to spend as much time on their feet out in the field,’ he stated, explaining the decision to bat on after lunch. The timing of the declaration was carefully calculated to leverage the evening conditions. The coach elaborated on the strategic advantage of using a relatively new ball when shadows fall across the wicket, providing assistance to fast bowlers.
With a 1-0 series advantage, South Africa felt empowered to set demanding terms. The decision was driven by the pursuit of a comprehensive 2-0 series win, a far more significant achievement than a narrow victory. Conrad acknowledged the good batting conditions but expressed faith in his bowling unit’s ability to secure the win, citing the effectiveness of Marco Jansen and the team’s growing spin attack. South Africa’s recent success with spinners like Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy indicates a conscious evolution in their bowling strategy, aiming to create more opportunities for spin-friendly results and foster talent development within the country.